Armstrong Was at Center of Doping Program, Agency Says

October 10, 2012 

 The United States Anti-Doping Agency said Wednesday that Lance Armstrong was at the center of the most sophisticated and professional doping program in recent sports history and that it would soon release details of its findings.

The agency said its dossier on Armstrong, the seven-time Tour de France winner and cancer survivor who denies ever doping, will include sworn testimony from 26 people, including nearly a dozen former teammates on the United States Postal Service team. Those Postal Service teammates have admitted their own doping and say that Armstrong doped, encouraged doping and administered doping products on the team, the agency said on Wednesday.

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The U.S.P.S. Team doping conspiracy was professionally designed to groom and pressure athletes to use dangerous drugs, to evade detection, to ensure its secrecy and ultimately gain an unfair competitive advantage through superior doping practices,” the agency said. “A program organized by individuals who thought they were above the rules and who still play a major and active role in sport today.”

The teammates who came forward and submitted sworn affidavits included George Hincapie, one of the most respected American riders in recent history, Levi Leipheimer and Tyler Hamilton — among the best cyclists of Armstrong’s generation.

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Their testimony is expected to be the most widespread effort to break the code of silence in cycling that has existed for decades and perpetuated the pervasive doping in the sport.

The evidence against Armstrong features financial payments, e-mails, scientific analyses and laboratory test results that show Armstrong was doping and was the kingpin of the doping conspiracy, the agency said. Several years of Armstrong’s blood values showed evidence of doping, said a person involved in the case who did not want his name used because the results have not been revealed yet.

During all that time, Armstrong was a hero on two wheels, a cancer survivor who was making his mark as perhaps the most dominant cyclist in history. But the evidence put forth by the antidoping agency drew a picture of Armstrong as an infamous cheat, a defiant liar and a bully who pushed others to cheat with him so he could succeed, or be vanquished.

The Armstrong Doping Report

 October 10, 2012, 2:34 pm

Comments

Armstrong was motivated by pure greed. Because he cheated he should have to repay the sponsors that he lied to and any prize money he earned. He is a liar and a coward who will not admit the truth, his denials are very similar to the denials from Sandusky and thats the lowest of the low. Shame on both of them and I hope they live long lonely lives.

... referred to Armstrong as a "cancer in cycling".

For much of the second phase of his career, Armstrong has faced persistent allegations of doping.^[55] A number of high-profile cyclists and journalists have alleged that he cheated although Armstrong retains respect and prestige in some circles.^[56]

Armstrong has been criticised for his disagreements with outspoken opponents of doping such as Paul Kimmage^[57][58] and Christophe Bassons, the only cyclist in his team to come clean of drugs during the infamous Festina affair.^[59][60] Bassons wrote a number of articles for a French newspaper during the 1999 Tour de France which made references to doping in the peloton. Subsequently, Armstrong had an altercation with Bassons during the 1999 Tour de France where Bassons said Armstrong rode up alongside on the Alpe d'Huez stage to tell him "it was a mistake to speak out the way I (Bassons) do and he (Armstrong) asked why I was doing it. I told him that I'm thinking of the next generation of riders. Then he said 'Why don't you leave, then?'"^[61] Armstrong confirmed the story. On the main evening news on TF1, a national television station, Armstrong said: "His accusations aren't good for cycling, for his team, for me, for anybody. If he thinks cycling works like that, he's wrong and he would be better off going home".^[62] Kimmage, a professional cyclist in the 1980s who later became a sports journalist, referred to Armstrong as a "cancer in cycling".^[60] He also asked Armstrong questions in relation to his "admiration for dopers" at a press conference at the Tour of California in 2009, provoking a scathing reaction from Armstrong.^[60] This spat continued and is exemplified by Kimmage's articles in The Sunday Times

Backing, Not Backing Away From, Armstrong

August 24, 2012

Lance Armstrong dropped his fight against doping charges Thursday, which means he will be stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.

But his loyal sponsors are not stripping him of their support.

Nike stood by Armstrong, much as it stood by Tiger Woods after revelations about his extramarital affairs in late 2009.

“Lance has stated his innocence and has been unwavering on this position,” said Mary Remuzzi, a Nike spokeswoman.

Anheuser-Busch InBev, for whom Armstrong has starred in Michelob Ultra commercials, said nothing would change in its relationship with him,

which began in 2009 with a three-year contract. “He has inspired millions with his athletic achievement and his commitment to helping cancer survivors and their families,” Paul Chibe, Anheuser-Busch’s vice president for United States marketing, said in a statement.