This is by no means an advocacy for Armstrong. Just thinking outloud of what could happen or may never be.
I know that many hate to even hear his name and cycling in the same sentence but I was considering that somewhere down the line that those that make decisions might deem it correct to restore Armstrongs titles considering the 7 year gap and taking into consideration the doping culture of the time.
In 1912 Jim Thorpe won two events in the Olympics but lost them due the fact the he got paid to play baseball. Many others were doing the same thing but using aliases as not to endanger their amateur status. His titles were eventually restored 30 years later and we all know that professional compete every 4 years in the olympic..The times and culture have changed. Thorpe to me is one of the greatest athletes of all times and at the time of his scandal most Americans payed little attention to his demise. I really don't think many payed a lot of attention to Armstrong's demise either, at least those outside the cycling community.
In 30 years the powers that be may look back and say "look at this shameful gap in the history of the Tour. We know it was a doping culture and they rode in a doped peleton so it was level playing field". Who knows doping could be made legal in 30 years just as being a pro and competing in the Olympics did.
I know that many hate to even hear his name and cycling in the same sentence but I was considering that somewhere down the line that those that make decisions might deem it correct to restore Armstrongs titles considering the 7 year gap and taking into consideration the doping culture of the time.
In 1912 Jim Thorpe won two events in the Olympics but lost them due the fact the he got paid to play baseball. Many others were doing the same thing but using aliases as not to endanger their amateur status. His titles were eventually restored 30 years later and we all know that professional compete every 4 years in the olympic..The times and culture have changed. Thorpe to me is one of the greatest athletes of all times and at the time of his scandal most Americans payed little attention to his demise. I really don't think many payed a lot of attention to Armstrong's demise either, at least those outside the cycling community.
In 30 years the powers that be may look back and say "look at this shameful gap in the history of the Tour. We know it was a doping culture and they rode in a doped peleton so it was level playing field". Who knows doping could be made legal in 30 years just as being a pro and competing in the Olympics did.