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
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
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…]
May
24
Lance Armstrong Book Co-Author Responds to Doping Allegations Against the Cyclist
Sally Jenkins, the co-author of Lance Armstrong’s book “It’s Not About The Bike” and Washington Post sports columnist, still believes Armstrong did not use performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). Jenkins wrote in an online chat that her opinion is based on her personal relationship with Armstrong in which she judges her friends based on her personal interactions with them. She had asked Lance Armstrong “point blank” if he had used steroids or PEDs and he denied it. However, she acknowledges that she cannot be completely objective when it comes to the issue. Jenkins admits that Lance Armstrong could “never disappoint” her even if he lied about his use of PEDs. [Read more…]
May
22
George Hincapie Doesn’t Deny Talking Steroids with Lance Armstrong
The CBS television news program “60 Minutes” reported that American cyclist George Hincapie told a federal grand jury that he discussed using anabolic steroids with Lance Armstrong. CBS reported that the testimony of the former teammate of Lance Armstrong also included statements about providing erythropoietin (EPO) to each other. George Hincapie was a domestique for Lance Armstrong who was crucial in helping Armstrong achieve seven Tour de France victories. [Read more…]
May
21
Tyler Hamilton Says He Used Steroids with Lance Armstrong
Former American cyclist Tyler Hamilton claimed that he used anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs along with Lance Armstrong and other cyclists at the time. Hamilton makes the allegations in an interview broadcast on the American television news program “60 Minutes“. Last year, Hamilton was subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury investigating Lance Armstrong and the use of performance-enhancing drugs in the sport of cycling. [Read more…]
Apr
25
Steroids Caused Lance Armstrong’s Testicular Cancer According to Ex-WADA Spokesman
Bob Weiner, a former spokesman for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and a former spokesman for the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA), recently suggested that anabolic steroids may have caused Lance Armstrong’s testicular cancer. Weiner brought up the dubious link between steroids and testicular cancer during the University of Massachusetts Sports and Drugs Distinguished History Ken Feinberg Lecture on April 20, 2011.
“[W]hy did [Lance Amrstrong] get testicular cancer in the first place at that young age,” Weiner asked those in attendance. “That’s also a symptom of steroid abuse.” [Read more…]
