Three former teammates of Lance Armstrong have testified that they saw the seven-time Tour de France winner take performance-enhancing drugs. But The Nation’s Dave Zirin says on ESPN that this won’t tarnish the cyclist’s reputation with his core fanbase: the loyal following he’s built through his support for cancer research.

The intensity of the sport, Zirin says, drives many cyclists to use drugs to push their bodies to the limits. It’s a sport that desperately needs organization and labor protections, he says in his latest piece.

—Sara Jerving