Armstrong - The lie we all feared is the truth

So USADA (United States Anti Doping Agency) have released their report.

I have not read the report (I unfortunately don't have time to read the 1000 page report) but from reports on the BBC and from following @mattslaterbbc a BBC Sports Journalist, it is clear that Lance Armstrong is not only implicated in doping, but was the instigator and ring leader of doping in the US Postal team.

As mentioned in my blog Vuelta and Omerta last month the weight of testimony from former teammates had placed doubts on Armstrong's credibility regarding doping.

Those team mates were all already retired and many of them discredited. The report from USADA includes new testimony from team mates with more to lose.

David Zabriskie, Levi Leipheimer, Christian Vande Velde, Tom Danielsson, Michael Barry and George Hincapie were all riding whilst they gave evidence to the USADA, they have all been banned for 6 months from September 2012 for 6 months. This will mean by the time the season starts in earnest in March they will be back, it is effectively a wrap on the wrists.

These riders certainly had more credibility than the likes of Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton, who were discredited before they spoke out. 

That a total of 26 former riders and members of staff, testified, shows the weight of evidence against Armstrong. Further evidence is given in payments to Dr. Michele Ferrari, a Doctor who was found guilty by the Italian cycling body of having been involved in administering doping products to riders.

Armstrong has long been connected to Ferrari, but denied that this was the case. This has been found to be one of many lies that Armstrong has told.

One key lie is the centre of Armstrong's defence, that he has never failed a drugs test. The truth of this statement is in doubt, as evidence has emerged, from rider testimonies, that Armstrong tested positive in 2009 just a month or so before the Tour de France.

This positive was then apparently covered up by the UCI (Cycling's governing body) in return for payments from Armstrong to the UCI. 

This is the equivalent of Wayne Rooney being caught cheating or taking drugs, then going to the FA paying them some money and then no action being taken.

This questions the whole integrity of the governing body of cycling.

Integrity is a word that is now distanced from Armstrong. His cycling achievements are now overshadowed by this evidence.

However what is not in doubt is that he beat cancer, we should remember Armstrong the cancer survivor and charity fundraiser, but Armstrong the cycling legend and hero, he's now a distant memory.