Armstrong Ends Fight Against Doping Allegations

SPORTS -- August 24, 2012 at 2:05 PM EDT

Armstrong Ends Fight Against Doping Allegations

The most recognizable cyclist in the world, Lance Armstrong, ended a battle Thursday night over allegations that he used performing-enhancing drugs. He continued to deny any doping during the course of his career, but acknowledged he would stop contesting charges levied against him by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

"There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, 'Enough is enough," Armstrong said in a statement.

Jeffrey Brown sat down this morning with our own resident cyclist, Ray Suarez, to discuss this latest development.

Armstrong described the investigation as "one-sided and unfair" and as "an unconstitutional witch hunt."

"It's a sad day for all of us who love sport and our athletic heroes," Travis Tygart, chief executive of the United States Anti-Doping Agency told The New York Times. "It's yet another heartbreaking example of how the win-at-all-costs culture, if left unchecked, will overtake fair, safe and honest competition."

Armstrong's move to stop fighting the charges means, according to the World Anti-Doping Code, that he will be stripped of his unprecedented seven straight Tour de France wins, a bronze medal he won at the 2000 Olympics, all awards or titles and money won from August 1998 to today.

He will also be barred for life from competing, coaching or having any official role in a sport that follows World Anti-Doping Code.

We will have more on this story on tonight's NewsHour.

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