Lance Armstrong Stops Spinning His Wheels

Austin, TX (WIBX) – “Enough is enough.”  After fighting what even critics call a “valiant” battle with cancer, the seven-time Tour de France champion is giving up his fight with the USADA.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency is expected to strip Armstrong of all seven of his titles and ban him from participating in Olympic sports and competitive cycling for life.

Armstrong has been the subject of a federal, criminal, doping investigation for more than two years.  The USADA has persisted in its pursuit of charges, asserting that Armstrong has used performance-enhancing drugs over the course of his expansive career.  Armstrong says, “The only physical evidence here is the hundreds of controls I have passed with flying colors. I made myself available around the clock and around the world. In competition. Out of competition. Blood. Urine. Whatever they asked for I provided. What is the point of all this testing if, in the end, USADA will not stand by it?”

He released the statement yesterday on his website.  ”The toll this has taken on my family, and my work for our foundation and on me leads me to where I am today – finished with this nonsense.”

His decision follows a statement released by USADA Chief Executive Officer Travis Tygart’s statement following the decision of a federal court to dismiss the suit Armstrong filed against the USADA.

On behalf of the USADA Tygart said on August 20, 2012, “We are pleased that the federal court in Austin, Texas has dismissed Lance Armstrong’s lawsuit and upheld the established rules which provide Congressionally-mandated due process for all athletes.  The rules in place have protected the rights of athletes for over a decade in every case USADA has adjudicated and we look forward to a timely, public arbitration hearing in this case, should Mr. Armstrong choose, where the evidence can be presented, witness testimony will be given under oath and subject to cross examination, and an independent panel of arbitrators will determine the outcome of the case.”

To read Armstrong’s statement in his entirety click here.