Italy’s Anti-Narcotic Group (NAS) continues its aggressive anti-doping investigations of athletes suspected of using anabolic steroids, erythropoeitin and other performancing-enhancing drugs. The latest investigation involving a Mantovana pharmacy is starting to appear like a witch-hunt if cyclist Michael Rasmussen is to be believed. The Mantovana investigation revolves around the sale and use of testosterone, EPO, ephedrine and corticosteroids and has targeted as many as 32 cyclists and team managers. [Read more…]
Steroids in Cycling
Jul
31
Lance Armstrong Asks Audience to Assume He Used Steroids
American cyclist Lance Armstrong recently asked an audience to imagine a scenario in which the allegations that he used performance-enhancing drugs were true. Several former teammates of Lance Armstrong has claimed to have direct knowledge of his use of the anabolic steroid testosterone, human growth hormone and the blood booster erythropoeitin (EPO). Tyler Hamilton, Floyd Landis and Frankie Andreu have all accused the seven-time Tour de France champion of doping. Teammate George Hincapie also allegedly make similar allegations before a federal grand jury investigating Armstrong. [Read more…]
Jul
19
Lance Armstrong Story Reported Differently by French and American News Agencies
John Keker, the founding partner of the San Francisco law firm Keker and Van Nest, recently filed a motion in Los Angeles federal court on behalf of his client Lance Armstrong. All three English-language news agencies all reported the story. The Associated Press (AP), the Agence France-Press (AFP) and Reuters Group (Reuters) usually report similar accounts of major news stories.
A casual reader of the recent Lance Armstrong story would come away with a very different perspective depending on which wire story they read. The court filing was characterized as an attack on the freedom of the press according to one account whereas other accounts characterized the motion as an attack on federal government employees for violating grand jury secrecy laws. [Read more…]
Jun
22
Belgium Police Create “Hormones Unit” to Handle Huge Steroid Problem
The Belgium Police have compiled a 35-page report detailing the rapid increase in the use of anabolic steroids in the country. The Police have responded by creating a special “Hormones Unit” to cope with the increased supply and demand of anabolic steroids. [Read more…]
Jun
15
Clenbuterol Threshold Discussion Opens Door to Major Changes in WADA Anti-Doping Protocol
Bodybuilders have used clenbuterol for its well-known fat loss properties and its purported anabolic properties ever since Dan Duchaine recommended the substance over two decades ago. Clenbuterol is a well-known drug within the bodybuilding world but has remained largely unknown to the mainstream up until recently.
The news that Tour de France champion Alberto Contador tested positive for clenbuterol at the 2010 Tour de France added a new drug to the public’s lexicon of performance-enhancing drugs. [Read more…]
Jun
14
Did Tyler Hamilton Plan a Confrontation with Lance Armstrong?
Lance Armstrong has been the subject of several doping accusations over the past decade during his domination of cycling’s most prestigious event, the Tour de France. Not only has Armstrong dominated the competition but he has arguably destroyed the lives of his accusers with his high-powered legal and public relations team. The wrath of Lance Armstrong has become legendary. [Read more…]
Jun
09
Pro Cyclist Banned for Using Jintropin hGH and Eposino EPO
The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) issued a lifetime ban to American professional cyclist Phillip Zajicek after he admitted using Jintropin-brand human growth hormone (hGH) and Eposino-brand erythropoeitin (EPO). USADA has a “three strikes” policy that results in a lifetime ban. Zajicek was first banned in 2004 after testing positive for the use of a banned stimulant. The second violation of USADA’s anti-doping policy involved the hGH and EPO admission. Zajicek also admitted providing false testimony and encouraging other witnesses to provide false testimony at doping hearing; USADA considered this his third violation of the anti-doping policy and consequently banned him for life. [Read more…]
Jun
03
“60 Minutes” Says Steroid Allegations Against Lance Armstrong Are Truthful
The Lance Armstrong legal and public relations machine has, for the most part, squashed the doping allegations that have followed the seven-time Tour de France champion for most of the past decade. He has used his considerable influence to discredit journalists and cyclists that have accused the cancer survivor of using performance enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids and erythropoeitin (EPO). This strategy succeeded against people like Floyd Landis, Greg LeMond and Frankie and Betsy Andreu. However, the aggressive strategy seems to have lost some of its bite recently.
The “60 Minutes” investigation into the use of performance-enhancing drugs in cycling (and specifically the use of PEDs by Lance Armstrong) may represent a pivotal moment for Armstrong. The public perception of Lance Armstrong appears to have changed with the CBS “60 Minutes” expose that included accusations by former teammate Tyler Hamilton. Armstrong’s integrity and credibility against his accusers are increasingly suffering. [Read more…]
Jun
01
Lance Armstrong’s Response to the “60 Minutes” Steroid Allegations
The CBS television news program “60 Minutes” recently reported the results of their extensive investigation into doping allegations surrounding cyclist Lance Armstrong. The most damaging information came from former teammates of the seven-time Tour de France champion. CBS interviewed Tyler Hamilton who claimed he used anabolic steroids and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) with Armstrong; CBS also reported that George Hincapie told a federal grand jury that he discussed using steroids with Armstrong.
The response by Lance Armstrong has been swift and aggressive as he took several steps to manage damage control. Amstrong posted a retort on Twitter pointing out that he has never failed a doping test in 20 years; he created a website called “Facts 4 Lance” to respond to various allegations; he hired the same successful legal team used by Major League Baseball to uncover the federal government violation of athletes’ constitutional rights during their steroid investigations; and he demanded a formal, on-air apology from CBS for their “shoddy”, “reckless” and “unprofessional” journalism. [Read more…]
May
25
United States Anti-Doping Agency May Strip Lance Armstrong of Tour de France Titles
The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) may seek to strip Lance Armstrong of his Tour de France victories and earnings according to the Washington Post. The eight-time Tour de France champion is currently under investigation by the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles. It is believed that a grand jury is considering whether to indict Lance Armstrong on charges of defrauding the U.S. government.
Armstrong was a member of the United States Postal Service cycling team and since the U.S. Postal Service is a government agency, anyone who defrauded the government by using anabolic steroids, erythropoeitin (EPO), or other banned substances or methods such as blood doping, could face serious criminal penalties. [Read more…]
