Lance Armstrong: Cycling Legend Right to Stop Fight Against USADA

Lance Armstrong made the best decision for himself when he decided to drop his fight with the United States Anti-Doping Agency. After a historic 19-year career in cycling, he has at least earned the right to determine how he is remembered.

While dropping the fight could come across as an admission of using PEDs, that's not the case. As Armstrong stated on his official website, there come's a point in time when it's not worth the fight:

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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.

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Armstrong's frustration is understandable. For the better part of his storied career, he has fought allegations of doping tooth and nail—to the point that he is remembered for the controversy as much as his incredible accomplishments on his bike.

The decision to drop the fight may take away his records officially, but the way he will be remembered does not change—he is, and always will be, the most dominant cyclist we have ever seen.

The important thing to remember before judging Armstrong and his decision is that he is human. While we would love to say that defending his legacy should be priority No. 1, that simply isn't the case. As Armstrong pointed out, defending his legacy has taken a toll on his family and his work off the bike. 

Whether Armstrong cheated or not, his ability to put his family and charitable work ahead of his own personal legacy should be commended.