Perhaps no sport rivals bicycle racing for its stringent drug-testing regime.

Since his first win of the Tour de France in 1999, Lance Armstrong has faced intense speculation that he used performance enhancing drugs during competition. The French sports newspaper L’Equipe has been a particularly earnest critic.

The newspaper has called Armstrong too good and too good to be true, and cheered when the greatest champion the sport has ever known retired after winning his seventh consecutive Tour. Now, it has released allegations that Armstrong used EPO, a drug that boosts red blood cells during his first win.

The director of the Tour, Jean-Marie Leblanc, Wednesday called the allegations proven scientific facts.

The proof, however, is questionable. The newspaper tested a “B” sample of Armstrong’s urine from 1999. How the paper obtained the sample and if it really is from Armstrong are questionable. Further, the testing was done as part of a process to develop a procedure for identifying EPO in urine.

Leblanc went on to say it’s now up to Armstrong to refute the allegations. Armstrong has continued to deny ever using banned substances. But without additional urine samples from the 1999 Tour, it’s difficult to imagine any way Armstrong can scientifically refute the allegations.

Armstrong’s is an amazing story of triumph and strength. Overcoming testicular cancer that had spread into his brain and lungs, he dominated one of the most physically demanding sports in the world.

He’s had a target on his back as if it were emblazoned on the yellow jersey he donned so often during his Tour career. His success, his swagger, that he’s an American, from Texas no less, have made him unpopular, especially among some French cycling fans.

At the same time, we’ve seen too many heroes fall, too many sports stars succumb to the temptation of a chemically enhanced edge, not to worry. If Armstrong cheated, it’s a cutthroat breach of trust that would demand sanctions.

There are too few heroes already. We would hate to see one more fall. Until there’s better evidence from a more reliable source, we’ll give Lance Armstrong the benefit of the doubt.

Is Armstrong too good to be true? We hope not.