#75, Armstrong

"As long as I live, I will ever deny doping."

For years and years, seven time Tour de France Champion, Lance Armstrong, has denied doping (using illegal substances).  He battled with cycling officials, his competitors, and the media endlessly to prove his innocence.  He was tested six hundred times over the course of his career and did not test positive a single time.

Two days ago, in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Mr. Armstrong admitted to cheating.  He confessed to using performance enhancing drugs such as testosterone, cortisone, and human growth hormone to improve his cycling.  As a result of his confession, Mr. Armstrong has been stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned from cycling for life.

Mr. Armstrong has been an inspiration for people all around the world after he fought off cancer and went on to become a cycling champion.  He also established an organization to support people suffering from cancer called Livestrong.  This foundation has raised millions of dollars to help fight cancer and continues to do so today.

Is the world a better place with Mr. Armstrong?  Or would it have been better without him?  Does it matter that all of the money raised for Livestrong was based upon a lie?  Defend your position.

Optional: Mr. Armstrong claimed that it was impossible to win the Tour de France without using illegal substances.  If everyone else in the Tour de France was cheating, was it okay to cheat too?

-Brenden Lee Teacher

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