Lance Armstrong was one of the sport’s greatest heroes and his doping admission shook the American public to its core. Although professional cyclists are sanctioned for violating anti-doping rules on an almost regular basis, the investigation and lifetime ban of Lance Armstrong highlighted the serious problems facing the sport. Increased efforts to police drug use in cycling appear to be ineffective; however, as Armstrong’s situation may reveal, private law-suits have the potential to serve as a new and additional deterrent to cheating in the future.
The aftermath of Armstrong’s admission has led to bickering of the major regulatory agencies, leading the general public to question whether the sport will ever be clean. This Article explores the impact Armstrong’s doping admission might have on the sport of professional cycling in the future, as well as the history of doping in cycling