His reaction to the allegations couldn’t be any clearer or more succinct: “I will simply restate what I have said many times: I have never taken performance enhancing drugs.” (This sure beats Rafael’s retort: “I have never intentionally used steroids. Never. Ever. Period.”)
A link to the cycling legend’s statement appears front and center on his website, which is a good thing. (Unfortunately, one must register to see what he has to say.) Nonetheless Lance Armstrong unequivocally and authoritatively decried the scurrilous charges early enough in the continuous news cycle (I couldn’t resist) to achieve some balance.
In spite of his forceful denial, the inherent biases of the world’s media leave much room for interpretation.
Here’s France’s Le Monde with its one-sided take on the allegation, while China’s government news agency carried a story sans Lance’s side. The Times of London was more sympatico as was just about every American outlet.
As effective as we can be in getting the word out, it is the filter of the fourth estate that determines what ultimately ends up in print, online or on the air.