The biggest news of last week was Lance Armstrong’s decision not to defend himself against the latest round of allegations from US-Anti Doping Agency.
It was shocker to me and many sports fans, who idolize him. Personally I got interested in cycling after reading his two books, his survival story is motivational factor for so many cancel patients and the way in which he came back to win seven Tour titles is been an amazing story by itself.
As Lance himself says, he is ‘most tested athlete ever’; been tested around 500 times. I am not still sure or ready to believe that Lance has taken any performance enhancement drugs, or maybe I am commenting purely on emotional grounds. However the impact is much wider, stripping of all seven Tour titles, including return of $7 Million prize money, returning of 2000 Olympic bronze medal and a life time ban on participating in cycling related activities.
But Lance said, ‘There is a point in life for everything where you will feel that’s it and I have reached that point here and now I want to let it behind and focus on family and cancer foundation’.
There could be several arguments to this, one argument is; as when the situation is tight and rather than facing the testimonies of eye-witness comprising of several of his team members and fellow-participants; Lance decided to pull out. Hard to believe for me!
Armstrong accepted the sanctions as a way to limit his liabilities as any large corporation would do. Not only his image emerged intact but in pure financial terms he is benefited. A day after his statement, the donation to his foundation has increased many times and the sale of merchandise also took a new height.
All of the cyclist’s major sponsors- Nike, RadioShack, Okkley Unit, Trek Cycles and Anheuser-Busch- said they will honour their existing contracts.
Whatever the impact is, he is been a hero to many, like me; he is the one who motivates thousands of people around and constantly been source of inspirations through his ‘Livestrong’ foundation.
To his iconic status as a survivor, underdog, champion and philanthropist; he can add another distinction. He is an athlete too big to fail.
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