This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-us-canada-13465590
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
Lance Armstrong used drugs, claims Tyler Hamilton | Lance Armstrong used drugs, claims Tyler Hamilton |
(about 9 hours later) | |
A former team-mate of cyclist Lance Armstrong has claimed the seven-time Tour de France winner used the performance-enhancing drug EPO. | A former team-mate of cyclist Lance Armstrong has claimed the seven-time Tour de France winner used the performance-enhancing drug EPO. |
Tyler Hamilton rode with Armstrong in the US Postal team and says they both used EPO during the 1999 Tour. | Tyler Hamilton rode with Armstrong in the US Postal team and says they both used EPO during the 1999 Tour. |
Armstrong, who has consistently denied the many such allegations made against him, said on his Twitter page: "Never a failed test. I rest my case." | Armstrong, who has consistently denied the many such allegations made against him, said on his Twitter page: "Never a failed test. I rest my case." |
Hamilton, 40, served a two-year ban for so-called blood-doping from 2005-2007. | Hamilton, 40, served a two-year ban for so-called blood-doping from 2005-2007. |
"I saw [EPO] in his refrigerator... I saw him inject it more than one time like we all did," Hamilton told the CBS programme 60 Minutes. "Like I did, many, many times." | "I saw [EPO] in his refrigerator... I saw him inject it more than one time like we all did," Hamilton told the CBS programme 60 Minutes. "Like I did, many, many times." |
Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hormone naturally produced by the kidneys. It is injected under the skin to stimulate red blood cell production, and its overall effect is to increase endurance. | Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hormone naturally produced by the kidneys. It is injected under the skin to stimulate red blood cell production, and its overall effect is to increase endurance. |
Armstrong's spokesman Mark Fabiani said in a statement: "Hamilton is actively seeking to make money by writing a book, and now he has completely changed the story he has always told before so that he could get himself on 60 Minutes and increase his chances with publishers. | Armstrong's spokesman Mark Fabiani said in a statement: "Hamilton is actively seeking to make money by writing a book, and now he has completely changed the story he has always told before so that he could get himself on 60 Minutes and increase his chances with publishers. |
"But greed and a hunger for publicity cannot change the facts: Lance Armstrong is the most tested athlete in the history of sports. He has passed nearly 500 tests over 20 years of competition." | "But greed and a hunger for publicity cannot change the facts: Lance Armstrong is the most tested athlete in the history of sports. He has passed nearly 500 tests over 20 years of competition." |
Allegations of the use of banned substances by members of the US Postal team are still the subject of a federal investigation in the United States. | Allegations of the use of banned substances by members of the US Postal team are still the subject of a federal investigation in the United States. |
Hamilton claimed it was that investigation which prompted his decision to admit his use of performance-enhancing drugs. | Hamilton claimed it was that investigation which prompted his decision to admit his use of performance-enhancing drugs. |
In an open letter to his friends and family published by various media outlets, he said: "Last summer, I received a subpoena to testify before a grand jury. Until that moment I walked into the courtroom, I hadn't told a soul [about my doping]. | In an open letter to his friends and family published by various media outlets, he said: "Last summer, I received a subpoena to testify before a grand jury. Until that moment I walked into the courtroom, I hadn't told a soul [about my doping]. |
"My testimony went on for six hours. For me, it was like the Hoover Dam breaking. I opened up; I told the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. And I felt a sense of relief I'd never felt before." | "My testimony went on for six hours. For me, it was like the Hoover Dam breaking. I opened up; I told the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. And I felt a sense of relief I'd never felt before." |
It was also revealed on Friday that Hamilton has handed back the gold medal he won in the time-trial at the Athens Olympics. Hamilton was allowed to keep it despite testing positive for blood doping because the laboratory accidently destroyed his B sample by deep freezing it, leaving too few red blood cells to analyse. | |
"I can confirm that Tyler Hamilton has given his gold medal from the 2004 Athens Olympic Games to Usada [US anti-doping agency] and that we will continue to work with the IOC [International Olympic Committee] and the USOC [US Olympic Committee] as appropriate concerning the final implications of our overall investigation," Usada chief executive Travis Tygart said in a statement. | |
The IOC said earlier on Friday it also was studying the issue. | |
"The IOC has taken note of Hamilton's confession and will of course study any potential Games-related implications," it said. | |
Hamilton is the latest in a list of former team-mates and associates to accuse Armstrong of cheating. | |
In 2010, Floyd Landis launched a series of allegations against Armstrong, with whom he rode in the US Postal team for several years, claiming he had used banned substances throughout his career. | In 2010, Floyd Landis launched a series of allegations against Armstrong, with whom he rode in the US Postal team for several years, claiming he had used banned substances throughout his career. |
Landis won the 2006 Tour de France but was later stripped of his title after a sample he gave following a stage win tested positive. He protested his innocence until 2010 but then admitted to systematic doping. | Landis won the 2006 Tour de France but was later stripped of his title after a sample he gave following a stage win tested positive. He protested his innocence until 2010 but then admitted to systematic doping. |
Armstrong won the Tour de France for seven consecutive years from 1999-2005. He retired following the last of those triumphs. | Armstrong won the Tour de France for seven consecutive years from 1999-2005. He retired following the last of those triumphs. |
The Texan returned to ride in the 2009 race and finished in a creditable third place. He competed in it again in 2010 but could only manage 23rd, although he helped his RadioShack team win the team competition. | The Texan returned to ride in the 2009 race and finished in a creditable third place. He competed in it again in 2010 but could only manage 23rd, although he helped his RadioShack team win the team competition. |
Earlier this year, the 39-year-old announced his retirement from competitive cycling. | Earlier this year, the 39-year-old announced his retirement from competitive cycling. |