Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong has decided to end his fight against the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after a federal judge dismissed his lawsuit against the anti-doping organization. Armstrong had been accused by USADA of using anabolic steroids, erythropoietin (EPO) and other prohibited performance-enhancing methods. As a result, USADA stripped Armstrong of all seven Tour de France titles including prize money. Armstrong has been banned for life from competing in sports. [Read more…]
Steroids in Cycling
Aug
26
Floyd Landis, Steroid Lies and Avoiding Jail Time
Former professional cyclist Floyd Landis has the opportunity to avoid jail time after lying about his use of anabolic steroids and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). Landis was stripped of the 2006 Tour de France title after he tested positive for the anabolic steroid testosterone. Landis initially denied using steroids; he solicited money from donors to help pay for his legal defense against the charges. But Landis later admitted using a wide variety of PEDs, including steroids, during his career. [Read more…]
Jul
30
Skinny Barry Bonds Leads to More Steroid Suspicions
An athlete who carries significant muscle mass or has recently gained considerable weight is frequently accused of using anabolic steroids. When Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire bulked up in the years prior to their assault of the single-season homerun record, speculation was rampant that steroids were responsible for the changes in their physiques. So now that Barry Bonds is apparently “skinny” again, the steroid witch-hunters have jumped on the weight loss as further “proof” that Bonds used steroids. [Read more…]
Jul
12
Sports Doctor Linked to Lance Armstrong Allegedly Created Secret Steroid-Olive Oil Mixture
The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has accused an Italian sports doctor of formulating a secret anabolic steroid concoction for seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and several other professional cyclists. Dr. Michele Ferrari, along with two other doctors, allegedly conspired with Lance Armstrong to traffic and administer performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). The drugs included the anabolic steroid testosterone in various delivery methods including a testosterone-olive oil mixture. [Read more…]
Jun
29
Tour de France Becomes More Dangerous as Doping Decreases
On the eve of the 2012 Tour de France, the most prestigious annual race in professional cycling, Eric Niiler of Discovery News makes the argument that doping (the prohibited use of erythropoietin, anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, etc) has decreased. Niiler supports his argument, in part, by referencing data that indicates uphill riding times have been slower and red blood cell counts have been lower over the past decade. [Read more…]
Jun
15
Lance Armstrong Steroid Allegations Don’t Scare Sponsors Away
The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) decided to bring formal charges against Lance Armstrong accusing him of using various prohibited performance enhancing drugs and methods including the anabolic steroid testosterone, erythropoietin (EPO) and blood doping. But Armstrong’s long-time sponsors don’t really care. They have decided to pledge their full support behind Armstrong in spite of the charges that Lance doped for over a decade. And experts unanimously agree that, from a marketing perspective, this represents a good decision. Lance Armstrong is like teflon on steroids. [Read more…]
Jun
13
USADA Formally Accuses Lance Armstrong of Using Steroids and hGH
The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has formally accused multiple Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong of using anabolic steroids and human growth hormone (hGH). In addition to steroids and hGH, Armstrong is also accused of using banned corticosteroids and saline and plasma injections to mask the use of erythropoeitin (EPO). [Read more…]
May
13
Lance Armstrong Will No Longer Fight Steroid and PED Accusations
Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong has given up the fight to defend himself against accusations of anabolic steroid and performance-enhancing drug (PED) use. In a recent interview with Josh Eells of Men’s Journal magazine, Armstrong made no effort to deny using steroids, EPO or any other prohibited PED. He indicated that he will not contest any new charges or investigations involving allegations of doping by the Tour the France champion. [Read more…]
Apr
29
Floyd Landis Bogus Steroid Defense Fund Under Investigation
Assistant United States Attorney Phillip Halpern is reportedly investigating disgraced American cyclist Floyd Landis as a target of a federal steroid-related fraud investigation. The news comes only a few weeks after seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong had his investigation into steroid-related fraud dropped by another California prosecutor. [Read more…]
Mar
23
Evidence Illegally Obtained in Operación Galgo Steroid Investigation
The Spanish courts continue to thwart anti-doping officials with their latest ruling on a major anti-doping investigation. The Audiencia Provincial de Madrid ruled that evidence seized in the Operación Galgo case was obtained illegally. Consequently, the anabolic steroids, stored blood and medical equipment used for transfusions seized by steroid investigators could not be used to prosecute any of the defendants on doping charges. [Read more…]
