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June 14, 2004
Abt on Armstrong doping allegations
IHT | Book details suspicions about Lance Armstrong and drug use
Samuel Abt chimes in on the new book L.A. Confidentiel: Les secrets de Lance Armstrong at IHT online, which means it will soon appear in the New York Times (the Times publishes IHT in Europe).
Abt had a chance to talk to David Walsh, one of the book's authors, and Walsh admitted "there is no smoking gun in the extract or in the full book to prove that Armstrong, a 32-year-old Texan, engaged in doping."
"We don't actually prove anything," Walsh said. "We just set out the facts and let the reader decide for himself who's telling the truth. But we do give names for every accusation."
Abt outlines the charges Emma O'Reilly, formerly Armstrong's personal masseuse, makes in the book:
- Armstrong told O'Reilly his hematocrit was 41, nine percent below the permitted maximum, and that he was "going to do what the others do" to enhance it.
- In July 1999, Armstrong asked her for makeup to cover bruises on his arm from injections. The authors maintain that legal injections are generally injected in the buttocks.
- In May 1998, Armstrong asked her to dispose of syringes after the Tour of the Netherlands.
- In May 1999, she ferried 24 pills from Johan Bruyneel, the USPS team director, to Armstrong near his home in Nice.
- She provides details of Armstrong's 1999 positive test for steroids, claiming Armstrong told her he had used a steroid around the time of the Route du Sud that he thought would have cleared his system before the Tour. O'Reilly says doctors backdated a prescription for a legal cream containing the steroid, and organizers allowed it, even though the cream wasn't listed on Armstrong's mandatory medical form.
US Postal is expected to release a response to the charges today. L'Equipe says Bruyneel refused to comment on the book at the Dauphiné Libéré yesterday.
Other sources include Stephen Swart, who the authors say took money to help Armstrong win the 1993 US Triple Crown, a $1,000,000 payday to any rider who won the 3 biggest US races, and Kathy Lemond, wife of 3-time Tour winner Greg Lemond, who "is also quoted at length about threats that Armstrong allegedly made to him because he had spread doubts about Armstrong's victories in the Tour."
Here's a little background on the Lemond-Armstrong relationship.
Posted by Frank Steele on June 14, 2004 in Doping, Lance Armstrong 2004 | Permalink
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Comments
Lance is either a great champion or someone who practises systematic doping but I really appreciate his character.If Amtrong resorts to doping what about the others?Cycling is extremely difficult it is nearly beyond human stamina.I really sympathize with cyclists in mountain stages they suffer a lot.
Posted by: missar at Jul 12, 2005 1:06:55 PM
This is ridiculous. After all Lance has been through what does society do to him? Harass, target, and attack. Why? Its simple; jelousy.
You have our support Lance,
www.LanceFans.com
Posted by: Andrew at Sep 19, 2005 8:02:44 PM
Lance used steroids and was blood dopping. There's no doubt about it.
Posted by: Chris at Sep 26, 2005 9:33:44 PM
All I know for sure is that his lung capacity from the world cup in Oslo to his first tour victory changed dramatically.
If you see this as supspicious or not is up to you.
Posted by: Joren at Nov 23, 2005 5:39:01 PM
I guess steroids is no help for marathoners
Posted by: Ed at Nov 6, 2006 6:20:43 PM
Lance is a fraud, but his sponsors have too much to lose if the truth comes out. Better a fake hero than no hero at all. There's alot to gain by doping.
Posted by: Daisy at May 19, 2007 11:31:06 PM
Okay so everything was wrote by a woman who used to be Lance's manager or something... maybe she said that because she was just mad because he fired her or something? i dont believe a word of it.. i dont think he cheated.
Posted by: Maddie at Aug 3, 2007 10:28:19 AM
I'm not sure what the hold-up is... maybe they have re-thought their stance on how this is going to actually make the company any money. Or perhaps their lawyers pointed out the liability of providing agents a platform to stick their feet in their mouth. Whatever it is, it's hardly something I'd claim as being "Well done".
www.jebshouse.com
Posted by: Jeb Simons at Apr 24, 2008 6:40:35 PM
Armstrong is a complete fraud. From average pro to world beater via cancer - it doesn't add up.
How can people be so blind all the time and defend him and his kind. Just consider: 1) Some of his former team mates who have either admitted doping or been caught: Landis, Hamilton, Andreu...There were obviously team doping programmes in place. 2) His links to Dr. Ferarri 3) His treatment of whistle blowers like Simeoni, Lemond and Kimmage. 4) The revelations in a respected sports journalist, David Walsh's book....and on and on....
Armstrong sickens me and people like him are ruining sport. He's in it for the fame and the money, just look at all the wankers that were in his entourage and it is so apparent that all he is is a brand - Straight talking, cancer beating hero. Absolute Bullshit, he's a lying fraud and people should wake up to this by reading the likes of Paul Kimmage, David Walsh and Jeremy Whittle. Alternatively listen to the likes of Farnkie Andreu or to a true champion, Greg Lemond.
Fuck you and your type Lance, you've ruined a fabulous sport and nobody other than ignorant fools believe in you. I hope you're found out for the fraud that you are.
Posted by: rob at Sep 3, 2008 5:32:35 PM
