Why Lance Armstrong’s admission matters
Re: Lance should have taken page from elite-liar playbook, Jan. 19.
Many people will say, in the same way that Lance Armstrong and other dopers justified their cheating, that everyone was doing it; so it just levelled the playing field.
Wrong. It tipped the playing field even more to the benefit of the liars and cheats, further disadvantaging those who chose to train and complete clean, in more ways than one. And as in economics, the trickle-down effect is significant and far-reaching.
My son Jamie Riggs competed as a cyclist for the past eight years, for the Ottawa Bicycle Club, elite amateur teams and the national U23 team in Europe and across North America. He had many successes and was proud to compete clean — he will never have to explain to future offspring why he cheated. Doping became very personal when his bronze medal won at nationals was elevated to silver after the silver medallist was caught doping. This wasn’t professional, but elite U23 amateur cycling, and doping tipped the playing field before thankfully being caught.
In Canada, pro-rider Michael Barry recently retired after a long career, then admitted to doping while he was Armstrong’s teammate. A standard apology followed with a promise to work for drug-free sport, conveniently after he made his fame and fortune from racing and books that he wrote about his career. Many young racers felt personally affronted by his admission; just like Armstrong, their Canadian role model was a fraud. Funding he received meant less money was available for those riding clean. Young riders funded their own travel to Europe and other races while he got sport funding, a good paycheque and the profile to sell books. How unfair is that?
At least now the sport of cycling is confronting its demons head-on, unlike other North American pro sports. Sensational and ugly as it is at the moment, I hope that cycling will succeed in ridding itself of dopers. It is one beautiful sport. Our family has met great people and had great times at races near and far. Our son has become a man of character in part through his experiences in cycling. Armstrong’s admission does matter, if only to open our eyes to the reality that doping in no way levels the playing field, it tips it even more. These dopers/cheaters at the highest levels of any sport rob younger athletes of opportunities and funding. That is something that no apology can fix.
NANCY RIGGS, Manotick