FORMER ALL-STAR HURLER Tony Griffin has called on Lance Armstrong to come clean on his alleged doping.
Yesterday, the US Anti-Doping Agency said 11 of the cycling star’s former teammates testified against him in its investigation, revealing “the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen.”
Griffin — who now runs the SOAR Foundation — worked with the American as part of his charity work and wrote about his thoughts on Armstrong for TheScore last week.
“Back in 2005 I rode a bike 7000kms to raise funds to assist the funding of a cure to cancer,” the former Clare hurler said today.
“We gave a portion on the funds raised to Livestrong as the result of a massive personal test and the goodwill of many. I have seen the work Livestrong do and they certainly carry out great work. There is no doubt that without Lance Armstrong’s input to that cycle we would not have been able to reach the international stage we did.
“I saw the side to Lance that many do not get to see. The side that genuinely cares about those suffering from cancer and I have had direct contact with people he has helped in a multitude of ways. However recent reports cause me to conclude that for his own sense of self Lance owes it to himself and to all those who believed in him to come forward and share his truth.
“My own personal belief is that we do not have the right to judge one another, we can comment on the actions but know that none of us have the right to condemn the person.
“Yet Lance Armstrong as an iconic figure to many, as a friend, father, son and as a man has a responsibility to clearly outline what is the truth here and set a precedent that will in time have positive ramifications across world and strike a chord at every level of society.
“At the end of the day the only person we can not fake out is ourselves. If Lance knows he lied about using performance enhancing drugs he owes it to himself and those people who believe in the person, separate from the athlete, to step up and tell the world what has really gone on here,” he adds.
