ABSTRACT
Chapter five provides an examination of how the exposure of doping by former professional cyclist Lance Armstrong challenged the legitimacy of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The combination of Armstrong’s success at the Tour de France, his philanthropic activities, recovery from cancer and his position to many as a hero meant his admission of doping generated massive media attention globally. Furthermore, the revelation that the Union Cycliste Internationale had at times colluded with Armstrong, the realisation that testing could be evaded and the involvement of the US Justice Department in an anti-doping investigation intensified the case’s significance to WADA’s legitimacy. Findings from the case study demonstrate how Armstrong portrayed himself as a victim to challenge WADA’s behaviour. Additionally, WADA used the success of non-analytical evidence in the prosecution of Armstrong to gain further regulatory powers to launch investigations. The chapter concludes that despite shortcomings in anti-doping policy exposed by Armstrong’s behaviour, the case reinforced WADA’s position as the chief anti-doping regulator.
