Stop At Nothing: The Lance Armstrong Story

Lance Armstrong destroyed his reputation just like Braun by taking steroids. However, Armstrong denies his steroid use, but he has stopped fighting the United States Anti-Doping Agency accusations (“Peddling” par. 2). His defense in

Sub-point A: An example of a person who used a form of steroid is Lance Armstrong a famous cyclist that has won Tour de France for seven consecutive times from 1999 to 2005. According to an article from BBC Sport, a website filled with information and issues relating to sports, last updated on 18 January 2013, Lance Armstrong admitted to taking performance-enhancing drugs Erythropoietin (EPO), testosterone, cortisone and human growth hormone as well as having blood transfusions in the interview with Oprah Winfrey, broadcasted on the Discovery Channel in the UK.

I found my love for athletic activity at a young age. When I was 7 years old, I was enrolled in a YMCA summer program in Michigan. That is where it all started. My summer days were filled with various sport activities. Unfortunately, when I moved to California at the age of 10, I stopped playing sports for at least a year. However, during the rest of elementary school, throughout middle school, and in high school, I played different sports to figure out which one I liked best, which is now, Track & Field.

Blood transfusions became popular between the 1970s and 1980s with a diverse population of professional athletes. EPOs (a natural hormone made by the kidney’s) followed blood transfusions and gained their popularity in the late 1980s (Eichner). The effects of EPOs were seen through the many health risks that the athletes encountered including the death of 20 European cyclists over a period of 4 years (Eichner). The 1998 Tour de France also saw its fair share of EPO use among athletes with one team being disqualified and 6 more teams dropping out (Eichner). Later came the use of synthetic or artificial blood. In recent years athletes have been accused of, and caught, using all of these methods to increase their endurance and performance. Tests are improving to be able to detect when an athlete has used one of these methods.

“If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything“, is a favorite statement of my grandmother, Gloria Wheeler. Born in 1940 in Remus, Michigan, she was the youngest and the only girl in her family. My grandmother is a kind, active seventy-five year old with the heart of a lion. Even at an older age, she continues to sing and act in front of large groups and memorize large scripts. My grandma, better known as Gaga, has four children; one girl and three boys. Fortunately, my father is one of her children. My grandmother inspires me to work hard, do my best, and be selfless to everyone I meet.

" That shows you the successful way of earning your reputation. Lance Armstrong was revoked from all his life rewards, earnings, and he was also banned from cycling. According to UCI president Pat Mccquaid ,"Armstrong tested positive for illegal supplements, drugs, and blood transfusions". It shows you the difference between a successful American Dream and a cheated filthy American

I first learned about this topic on a television show I watch called Hawaii 5-O. The episode had a group of athletes that were blood doping in order to win bicycling races and to get a leg up on escaping the police after robbing their targets. It briefly explained what the group was doing, and why it made them have better stamina and bettered their athletic abilities. Then when Lance Armstrong was accused of many different types of performance enhancing drugs, he admitted to using blood doping among other techniques. He used the method of blood doping that utilizes EPO, which is a hormone that is produced in the kidney for RBC production. He was stripped of all the Tour de France titles in his possession and the bronze medal he won in the Olympics.

LIVESTRONG is a civic minded foundation, meaning their goal and main reason for creating the organization is to help people. LIVESTRONG is known for it’s iconic yellow wristband with the word: LIVESTRONG. LIVESTRONG specifically helps cancer patients with the understanding and the help they need, and cancer survivors with the emotional and even financial help they may need.

Sitting in my frigid bleak classroom I found myself constantly looking out the window staring at the rain that had been barreling down all morning. This frightened me a great deal, for I was prepared to compete in my first official Cross Country race of the season. I waited for this day for quite a few months. Unfortunately, previous back-to-back injuries prevented me from fulfilling my dream of running. These injuries were so severe i had to go into surgery just to be able to walk normal again much less of running on uneven surfaces like cross country. The long months of rehabilitation were log and painstakingly hard, not just physically but mentally as well. There were so many days i knew there was no way i was ever going to be my normal self again. When I was finally able to run again I spent all of my summer practicing for this year’s season. Many of my

Lance is seventeen when he crashes his beloved blue Mitsubishi Diamante into a tree, gifting himself a nasty concussion, a broken wrist, and a terrifying lecture from his overprotective mother.

It also showed the consequences of cheating as he was stripped of his Tour de France wins. I believe that doping isn’t acceptable, especially in cycling. I feel like the people who legitimately train hard to be professional cyclers are being cheated, and I feel like the sport needs to be taken more seriously since many people believe that many cyclers are doping. Cycling is a great sport that takes years of training to be a professional, so I believe that if the UCI and the Tour de France committees take the sport more seriously than before, the sport could be more enjoyable for everyone

When it comes down to it he took steroids and testosterone and because of it won seven consecutive Tour De Frances. He won his first in 1999 and won every year up to and including 2005. He had been accused of drugs many times but every time he blatantly lied and said he had never taken any illegal substances. There had been many investigations and many old teammates planned to testify against him. But he kept pleading innocent. On August 24, 2012, the USADA (United States Anti-Doping Association) stripped him of his seven Tour wins and all honours won between 1999 and 2005 and they banned him from sport for life. He then came out in an interview with Oprah about all his past drug uses. This is totally unacceptable and is sending unacceptable messages to children as celebrities or sportspeople influence them a lot when they are young. He is influencing them that drugs are okay and that lying is acceptable. Therefore it is clear that Lance Armstrong is an appalling role model as he promotes lying and drug

stripped from his seven Tour de France titles because of his using. Armstrong and his

As a track runner, it is a necessity to be relaxed yet focused and determined. When I participate in track meets or even at practices, I receive a comforting warmth just by stepping onto the track. I feel as though burdens and worries temporarily lift from my shoulders. One may wonder how this can make someone content with their surroundings instead of nervous and uneasy based upon their environment and luckily for me this is an uncomplicated notion to explain. Unlike particular people, the track calms me and gives me a place to clear my head. I work relentlessly to achieve my goals, nevertheless it also gives me the clearance and space I need to effectively work my hardest whether it be a physical goal I am working to achieve

One of the most recent and highly publicized stories regarding an athletes deviant behavior in the media was involving former seven time (7x) Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong. In the article titled Lance Armstrong says He Cheated, Lied, and Bullied during his Career by Eden Novy-Williams, Lance Armstrong admitted to deviant behavior over the course of his career. The article goes on to talk about how Lance Armstrong used drugs through a record run of titles in cyclist biggest race the Tour de France. Furthermore, as the title of the article depicts when it mentions bullying, Lance Armstrong admits to how he possibly forced other athletes to follow his lead, in regards to his deviant