Did Lance Armstrong Take Drugs?

We may never know for certain, if Lance Armstrong took performance enhancing drugs. There has been intense scrutiny and speculation, but, nothing has ever been proved on a legal basis.

These are some of the circumstantial factors around the issue.

• Drug taking was rife in the 1990s. Many cyclists, who never failed a drugs test, have gone on to admit their guilt e.g. Bjarne Riss, Festina Team, Richard Virenque, Alex Zulle, Dave Millar, Erik Zabel. Numerous top pros have claimed that the % of pros taking EPO in the late 80s was incredibly high.
• Team mates of Lance Armstrong have later gone on to fail drugs tests. Some of the highest profile names include Manuel Beltran (2008 EPO), Floyd Landis (Testosterone in Tour de France after miracle recovery ride) and Tyler Hamilton (blood doping at Olympics)
• In 2006 former teammate Frankie Andreu claimed that EPO was used within the team. Although they never claimed to see Armstrong take EPO, the suspicion was that EPO use was rife in the team.
• Lance Armstrong took advice and was close friends with controversial doctor, Michael Ferrari. Michael Ferrari has been implicated in many high level doping issues. He was eventually tried and found guilty on some counts of sporting fraud (although he was also cleared on more serious counts)
• A key factor in Ferrari’s conviction was the testimony of Italian cyclist Fillipo Simeoni [1]. Lance Armstrong displayed his intense displeasure at F. ‘betrayal’ of cycling unwritten code of not speaking about doping. Lance Armstrong chased him down in a stage of the Tour de France, even though he presented no threat to the overall lead.
• L’Equipe claimed on August 23, 2005, that there was evidence Lance Armstrong failed a dope tests (for EPO) from a 1999 Tour de France stage [2]. There is much controversy over the legality of looking at dope test from several years ago. However, it was argued that Armstrong’s samples indicated EPO use. Armstrong denied any wrong doing and the validity of the tests has never been proved on a legal basis. However, tour boss Jean-Marie Leblanc, claimed it was a scientific fact Armstrong took dope.
• LA Confidential: The Secrets of Lance Armstrong, co-written by journalists David Walsh and Pierre Ballester was published in an attempt to prove a link between Armstrong and doping. The book admits they mainly use circumstantial evidence. Armstrong began a strong legal challenge to the book and demanded an apology for its claims.
• Lance Armstrong has always denied drug use. His innocence has not been disputed by official legal challenges. He may have been a victim to the intense scrutiny any cycling champion is likely to face in an era of widespread drug use. He also says he has given his own money to fight illegal doping.
• At the very least, we may express disappointment over the way he chose to use Michael Ferrari, a doctor with a long history of doping allegations. (amongst other things Ferrari claimed EPO was the same as drinking orange juice). Armstrong claims he just went for ordinary training advice. But, if that was the case he could easily have chosen many other trainers who didn’t have the same bad reputation.One thing is absolutely certain, if Armstrong didn’t take any performance enhancing drugs, it is even more remarkable given the fact that nearly all his rivals have admitted their guilt or at least have strong suspicions lying over them.Lance Armstrong was a truly gifted athlete, perhaps the best of his generation; it is sad that his many great achievements have inevitably fallen under a cloud of suspicion. A cloud of suspicion we have to blame mostly on the cycling authorities for their long standing desire to sweep the issues under the carpet.

[1] Simeoni and Armstrong Spat at Tour

[2] EPO test at 1999 Tour de France

[3] Strong Arm tactics at Scotsman

Lance Armstrong Links

• Lance Armstrong at Wikipedia
• Armstrong took Doping - according to Tour boss Jean Marie Le Pen
• Lance Armstrong Biography

Doping Issues in Cycling

• Paul Kimmage and Doping Issue
• Doping and the Future of Cycling