TdF podium The statement issued by the USAD on Lance Armstrong's ongoing denial of drug taking is another step along the road to eliminate or attempt to eliminate drug cheats from the sport. It could signal the start of a new era, one already to a large degree started. Armstrong is interesting as he has never failed a drugs test and to many, this makes their 'hero' the subject of a witch hunt, something Armstrong himself has referred to on many occasions in recent times. The ongoing saga has done nothing for the sport but the drawn out inquiries have inevitably been hampered to a degree by the status Armstrong holds in the sport and of course the bottom line in all this is -- is he guilty? His decline to carry on defending himself could be taken as giving in to an inevitable guilty verdict should he appear and defend himself against what would appear to be an ever increasing list of witnesses many ex team mates who have stated they saw him taking drugs and evidence of their presence. Armstrong would and has said that certain members of his teams have an axe to grind, having themselves been found guilty of doping, but then, it does not seem feasible that so many would perjure themselves against a man who was largely responsible for better conditions and pay for those who chose to ride with him and the success and recognition that came with it. Armstrong post cancer --