Lance Armstrong Doping Investigation: Fans Shouldn't Feel Bad for Cyclist

The United States Anti-Doping Agency's decision to strip seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong of his cycling titles on Friday was the right one.

According to a report by ESPN.com on Friday morning, the USADA has made the decision to strip Armstrong of his victories and hand him a lifetime ban after he refused to begin the USADA's arbitration process.

Although Armstrong's decision to give up his fight against the USADA makes him look like the victim in this case, fans shouldn't be feeling bad or sorry for him.

Here is Armstrong's statement from his official website Thursday regarding the recent developments:

"

There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, "Enough is enough." For me, that time is now. I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999. Over the past three years, I have been subjected to a two-year federal criminal investigation followed by Travis Tygart's unconstitutional witch hunt. 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.

"

Sure, Travis Tygart, the USADA's chief executive has come after Armstrong hard despite the cyclist reiterating the key point that he had never actually failed a drug test. 

But the USADA built a mighty case against Armstrong, and "had blood tests from 2009 and 2010 that were 'fully consistent' with blood doping," according to the ESPN.com report. Not to mention the countless Floyd Landis' emails filled with allegations and other vital information to the case.

In the end, innocent people don't give up their reputation and years of hard work if they aren't guilty.

Armstrong's decision to let the USADA change forever how he will be remembered and to effectively ruin his legacy as one of the greatest cyclists of all time serves as nothing more than an admission that he somehow won his titles unfairly.

It's certainly a shame, but far from an "unconstitutional witch hunt," like Armstrong says. The USADA is not the bad guy in this case, rather an organization doing its job, sending a message and making an example out of an icon.

Fans shouldn't feel bad for Lance Armstrong after Friday's decision. For a man renowned for never giving up when the going got tough, Armstrong's decision to quit his battle with the USADA serves as an uncharacteristic one, and an admission of guilt.

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