LANCE ARMSTRONG'S OVERDUE UNDERWHELMING CONFESSION.............

The first of a two night interview presentation aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) last night with Lance Armstrong, the seven time Tour de France Champion cyclist, who for the very first time admitted to using banned, performance enhancing drugs during the competitions.  Armstong, a testicular cancer survivor and founder of the Live Strong Foundation to combat cancer, who sold tens of millions of colored rubber wristbands for the benefit of his charity, worn by Americans and peoples in many other countries around the World, was stripped of his 7 Tour de France medals and will having his Olympic medal taken from him, and is banned from professional competition for the rest of his life.  His admission to doping coming now is thought to be his attempt to be allowed to return to professional competitions anew.  But by making a public confession he also opens himself up to multiple lawsuits for victory monies received, or suit settlements he received, or the bullying of others, he now admits he did.  His net worth is presently thought to be in the range of $100 million, but potential lawsuits, his endorsement contracts having been cancelled, and the likely he will get any new endorsement or business offers soon, if at all; leave him in a precarious position.  The major question I have about Lance Armstrong's doping and that of a number of other members of Team Armstrong or other competitors, is why could it persist for 7 years in a top shelf  athletic competition such as the Tour de France ?  Were the anti-doping officials monitoring the use of banned substances highly incompetent at carrying out their responsibilities ?  Or perhaps, did they intentionally overlook the now seemingly obvious violations being committed, so as to gin up interest, fan support, ratings, and monetary gain for the world class international competition, the Tour de France is, and their share in benefiting from it ?.............Fr.  Troy