I may be in the minority here, but I don't mind seeing suspensions and bans for players caught using PED's. The rules say drug free so you're expected to be drug free. I will never step on a powerlifting platform in a drug free fed. I'm not bashing athletes who get caught using PED's. I fully understand why they do it and I would probably do the same in their situation. I'm just saying I have no problem with them being punished when they get caught. They knowingly broke the rules, so they have to pay the penalty if they're dumb enough, or unlucky enough, to get caught.
As far as Armstrong goes, I need to see USADA's evidence before I form my opinion on whether or not I think he cheated, but I honestly don't know if I believe he did. As far as I understand it, the only evidence is statements of other racers, all of whom lost to him and most of whom have already been caught doping themselves. That's some motivation right there for them to throw him under the bus. They claim they saw him using. The man has probably been subjected to more drug tests than any other athlete in history and has been squeaky clean every time. I just don't understand why every anti-doping agency has such a hard on for this guy. He turned cycling into a sport people actually paid a little bit of attention to. Not to mention he hasn't competed seriously in almost 8 years. If he truly did cheat and beat the system for that long, without leaving one single piece of actual physical evidence along the way, then bravo to him. The man's a fucking genius if that's the case <-- That's a statement that probably only us select few will appreciate.
Unless I see the evidence and there's something really solid in there, I'll take Armstrong at his word. I would be tired of fighting these allegations too. He's been fighting the fight for 10-15 years now, despite the fact he has been retired from the sport for almost 8 years. He shouldn't have to invest substantial amounts of his time and money every single year to defend his reputation against claims from people he beat. He is still the best cyclist to ever live and always will be. Not to mention a truly great and inspirational human being.