A Letter to the USADA

A truthful witness gives honest testimony,

but a false witness tells lies.

Proverbs 12:17

 

Integrity:  firm adherence to a code of moral values;

the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one's actions.

 

Hypocrisy:  promoting virtues, moral beliefs, principles,

etc., that one does not actually have, and is also

guilty of violating.

 

Cheating:  An immoral way of achieving a goal;

the breaking of rules to gain advantage

in a competitive situation.

Lance Armstrong:  “I went and looked up the definition 

of cheat, and the definition is to gain an advantage on a 

rival or foe.  I didn’t view it that way.

I viewed it as a level playing field.”

 

Dear Travis Tygart:

 

Lance Armstrong can tell his "story" to Oprah Winfrey or anyone else who will listen (what was he paid for that interview, by the way?), paint his past actions any color he desires, ignore his detractors, whine about his harsh punishment, give white-washed definitions to age-old crimes, and pout about his banishment from sports competition.  At the end of the day?  He is still nothing but a cheater:  a man who would do anything to win, including breaking the fundamental rules of the game; a man who lied, and lied, and lied - and expected everyone around him to lie with and for him.

 

What does Mr. Armstrong want now?  Why, to be let back into the game - to have the ban lifted that prohibits him from competing in sports.  He wants a slap on the wrist and a return to glory.  I, for one, do not believe he should ever be allowed to return to competition.  Why?  It's very simple:  the man does not know how to compete without cheating.

 

The prophet Jeremiah asked the question, Can a leopard change its spots?  The obvious answer is, No.  Neither can Mr. Armstrong change who he fundamentally is:  a man who believes himself so privileged that he is above and beyond all the rules - a law unto himself.  His character is not one that we would hold up for our children to emulate; instead, he is the poster boy for all that we don't want our children to be.  Rather than allow him back in the limelight, I believe that his doping and the subsequent massive coverup should be sufficient evidence to permanently bar him from any sports venue.