lance armstrong use drugs??

image source : crackbillionair.files.wordpress.com

SM*SH -Tyler Hamilton eliminated that gap with his allegations to "60 Minutes" on Sunday night. He is the latest former Armstrong teammate to declare, in no uncertain terms, that Armstrong was on a sophisticated performance-enhancing drug regimen during his run of seven straight Tour de France wins.

If it's all true, if the mounting pile of evidence collecting at Armstrong's feet contains facts and not some broadly disorganized plan to smear the man and his legacy, then Armstrong is a fraud. That's right: If Armstrong spent the best years of his cycling career enhancing his performance with EPO and testosterone and undergoing blood doping to improve his endurance, then he's a fraud.

(A brief digression: Armstrong's situation is different from Greg Mortenson's. Unlike Mortenson, Armstrong's philanthropy is not the means of his wealth or fame. Big difference.)

The doping world described by Hamilton is organized, plotted and -- more than anything -- expected.

No one who doubts Lance is credible. In response to Hamilton, Armstrong launched a new website -- facts4lance.com -- to hammer home this point. Landis is not credible. Hamilton is not credible. Andreu is not credible.

Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty ImagesFans didn't just cheer for Lance Armstrong the cyclist when he came back. Armstrong has painted himself into a corner.

Here's the tough part. Forget what you might know, think or feel about the Chronicles of Lance Armstrong and the Never-Ending World of Drugs-in-Sport.

60 Minutes: Teammate says Armstrong doped

Lance Armstrong photo essay

Analog 1: We love our drugs: Tyler Hamilton, a well-respected and conflicted member of cycling's tenured elite, tells "60 Minutes" on several occasions that drug use was so engrained as necessary (to succeed) in the culture of pro cycling that even the directors, docs, trainers, and politicians were all part of the hegemonic buy-in.

Examples of institutionalized coercion in "beneficial drug use" are seen in the drugs, Thalidomide (late '50s) nicotine (50s to present), Botox (present), and Viagra (present). If you want to separate sport from society, knock yourself out. Analog 2: We fetishize our fallen heroes. Perhaps if we can look at ourselves and ask that if we are a society that is wrestling with notions of modern (in)fidelity, has that affected our long term world-views of Woods' debauchery?

Analog 3: War heroes in rehab. If nothing else, Armstrong is an unassailable survivor. He has beaten the cancer bitch perhaps harder than any public figure to date. What this says to me is that he has "earned" the right to enter the public discourse on drugs, social influence, inspiration, and survivorship.

Does Lance know this? If you want to prosecute sport heroes ipso facto, then you might as well start with Thomas Jefferson, the lacrosse player, and his ownership of black slaves. Reputations and their result are discerned in the court of public opinion. Barry Bonds is tainted goods in many eyes. Clemens? Marion Jones? McGuire? Sousa? If Lance is found guilty in any kind of court, he will pay his price in one way or another.

A strong mea culpa? Jail? Public humiliation? Death?

Lance Armstrong may be indicted on a variety of charges pertaining to PED use in his tenure as America's best cyclist on record.

Armstrong’s business portfolio is stronger than ever. Slideshow: Athletes gone broke

“Our relationship with Lance remains as strong as ever,” said Nike spokesman Derek Kent. Meanwhile, donations to the Lance Armstrong Foundation continue to come in.

Since the foundation was created, donations have increased. On Monday, former international cycling chief Hein Verbruggen told the AP that there was never any cover-up to save Armstrong. As of now, Armstrong’s business thus far has been as bulletproof as his adamant responses that he never took performance enhancing drugs.

What’s interesting about the government’s involvement is that it concerns them because Armstrong’s teams were funded by the U.S. Postal Service. At issue, is whether the government was defrauded by paying for the sponsorship as the cyclists used performance enhancing drugs.