Lance Armstrong has stepped down as the chairman of Livestrong, the charity he founded to fight cancer, The Associated Press and other media sources have reported.
The reason, not surprisingly, is because of the negative publicity he’s received because of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s investigation of Armstrong’s doping during his seven-year run as Tour de France champion.
“I have had the great honor of serving as this foundation’s chairman for the last five years and its mission and success are my top priorities,” Armstrong said in a statement posted today on the Livestrong blog. “Today therefore, to spare the foundation any negative effects as a result of controversy surrounding my cycling career, I will conclude my chairmanship.”
Shortly after Armstrong’s announcement, AP also reported that Nike would end its relationship with him “due to the seemingly insurmountable evidence that Lance Armstrong participated in doping and misled Nike for more than a decade.” Nike, however, will support Livestrong.
In 1996, as Armstrong’s treatment for testicular cancer was ending, I created the foundation to serve people affected by cancer.
“It has been a great privilege to help grow it from a dream into an organization that today has served 2.5 million people and helped spur a cultural shift in how the world views cancer survivors,” Armstrong said on the Livestrong blog. ” This organization, its mission and its supporters are incredibly dear to my heart.”
Jeff Garvey, Livestrong’s vice chairman, will become the organization’s new chairman.
The news comes as no surprise in wake of USADA’s devastating “Reasoned Decision” last week detailing the doping allegations against Armstrong and his U.S. Postal Service team.
In case you were hiding under a rock — or in my case, working on a bunch of projects — the report details a systematic doping program led by Armstrong. Here’s a good summary of it from Bicycling magazine.:
USADA detailed the depth of doping during Armstrong’s run of seven Tour de France wins (20 of 21 podium finishers from the 1999 to 2005 Tours have been convincingly tied to doping); the drugs Armstrong did (EPO, testosterone, cortisone, blood transfusions) and the cost (over $1 million to Michele Ferrari, who numerous witnesses say was a doping expert); how he eluded testers; and finally his efforts to suppress the truth, including witness intimidation, false affidavits, and perjury.
When Armstrong started his string of Tour de France victories in 199, I believed in him despite the finger-pointing by his critics. I started having doubts, though, when he withdrew from the 2004 Athens Olympics shortly after winning his 6th Tour de France.
But I must acknowledge Armstrong’s role in the increased popularity in bicycling in the United States, and there is no doubt that Livestrong has given hope to many, many cancer patients. I hope that can continue despite the major taint on Armstrong’s carerr.
The problem with awarding Armstrong’s Tour de France victories to the 2nd place finishers is that virtually all of those riders also have a doping history at some time in their careers. Either they have tested positive, been accused of, or self admitted to doping sometime over their ride years. If Armstrong and his teammates could pass the tests during his TDF winning years, how can anyone know if the 2nd place riders were truly clean? With the rampant doping going on throughout the teams, they should just set Armstrong’s awards aside and not award them to anyone.
Comment by gjh — October 17, 2012 @ 10:47 pm