Having never won a major title in the sport or even competed since his cycling doping confessions three years ago, Lance Armstrong remains arguably the most controversial name in tri.
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“Let Lance Armstrong race Kona” says Ironman legend Dave Scott
Armstrong is making headlines once more, having recently revealed in a podcast with Movember Men’s Health that it was the way he “mistreated people” that he regrets the most from his time dominating (and cheating his way) to seven Tour de France victories.
Armstrong also polarised opinion at a 35km trail race he won at the weekend in California, with Joe Gray, a US national trail-running champion, taking to Facebook to air his distain:
“Race directors allowing him into racing need to understand that it’s not because of his doping alone that he is not welcome. It’s because of the things he did outside of doping and the fact that he could influence others to take the negative plunge he once took.”
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On 220’s Facebook page, we posed the question of whether Armstrong should be allowed to compete when his ban is lifted in August 2016, and garnered some fascinating responses ranging from yes’s, to definitive no’s, to indifference and back again. Here’s our pick of the comments…
For
Despite many commenters supporting or wanting Armstrong’s return, many still had contempt for the man himself:
Whilst others had respect for Armstrong’s ability regardless of his past, or claimed that his presence could actually strengthen testing procedures in tri:
Against
For others it was simply a straightforward ‘no’, with potential damage to triathlon’s image cited as one of the reasons:
Indifference
Others believed the furore surrounding Armstrong has gone on too long, and regardless of what happens it’s time for sport, and the triathlon community, to move on:
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Look out for more opinion and coverage of the Lance Armstrong debate on our website in the new year – for now, do you have anything more to add to the points made above?