Armstrong comments support Landis
Armstrong comments support Landis
Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong sympathized with Floyd Landis after an arbitration panel recently ruled to ban Landis for two years.
“When you are giving someone the death penalty, which they essentially did, you cannot tolerate shoddy work, which they clearly did,” Armstrong said to the Associated Press. “I don’t understand that type of rationale. I don’t understand the verdict.
“It’s tough for Floyd; it’s tough for cycling. But at the same time, it’s also really tough and unfortunate for the fans of all athletes. You never know when you’re in that position, when an athlete’s in that position, and you want to make sure that everything’s done right.”
Armstrong, who has faced doping accusations directed his way, criticized the lab that handled Landis’ samples. He also claimed an American jury would not have found Landis guilty of doping.
“I didn’t follow Floyd’s case that much, but I will tell you, if that’s a jury trial in the United States of America, with eight or 10 or 12 of our fellow citizens, you get off every time,” said Armstrong to the AP. “Not that you get off, but you’re vindicated.”
Armstrong said it wasn’t just cycling suffering hard times. “I think all of sport is going through a tough time,” he said. “There’s a lot of money, a lot of pride, a lot of fame on the line. People are going to cut corners. It’s the job of the governing bodies and the police and all these agencies to make sure what we’re watching is pure and clear.”
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One might take the libertarian view that an individual has the right to use drugs, any drugs, even those that may kill her, may reduce the quality of his life later. Just declare that athletes may use drugs and allow the market forces, what people will pay to see or see.
I don’t personally approve of using drugs to enhance performance, but if an athlete, with full knowledge of the physical consequences, decides to use them, well, okay. We have in this society decided to meddle in the lives of individuals, to tell folk how to live their lives. The state of Alabama has made vibrators for sexual pleasure illegal. We have to stop meddling in the lives of individuals. If you don’t like performance enhancement drugs in a sport then don’t support it. If enough folk withdraw their support the governing body of the sport will change the situation.