Lance Armstrong

For the Australian politician, see .

Lance ArmstrongArmstrong before the Personal informationFull nameLance Edward ArmstrongNicknameLe Boss Big TexBornLance Edward Gunderson September 18, 1971 , U.S.Height1.77 m (5 ft 91⁄2in)Weight75 kg (165 lb)Team informationDisciplineRoadRoleRiderRider typeAll-rounderAmateur teams 1990–19911991Professional teams1992–199619971998–200520092010–2011Major wins2 individual stages (, )

(1998) (1995, 1996)

() (1993) (1995) (1996) (1993) Medal record Representing Men's Olympic GamesDisqualifiedLance Edward Armstrong (born Lance Edward Gunderson; September 18, 1971) is an American former professional . He became regarded as a sports icon for his seven consecutive wins from to , the most in the event's history. However, Armstrong's reputation would be tarnished by that led to him being disqualified of his titles.

At age 16, Armstrong began competing as a and was a national sprint-course triathlon champion in 1989 and 1990. In 1992, Armstrong began his career as a professional cyclist with the team. He had notable success between 1993 and 1996 with the in , the in 1995, in 1995 and 1996, and a handful of stage victories in Europe, including stage 8 of the and stage 18 of the . In 1996, he was diagnosed with a potentially fatal . After his recovery, he founded the Lance Armstrong Foundation (now the ) to assist other cancer survivors.

Returning to cycling in 1998, he was a member of the team between 1998 and 2005, when he won his Tour de France titles, as well as a bronze medal in the . Armstrong retired from racing at the end of the 2005 Tour de France, but returned to competitive cycling with the Astana team in January 2009, finishing third in the later that year. Between 2010 and 2011, he raced with , the he helped found. He retired for a second time in 2011.

Armstrong became the subject of after he won the . For years, he denied involvement in doping. In 2012, a (USADA) concluded that Armstrong had used performance-enhancing drugs over the course of his career and named him as the ringleader of "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen." While maintaining his innocence, Armstrong chose not to contest the charges, citing the potential toll on his family. As a result, he was stripped of all of his achievements from August 1998 onward, including his seven Tour de France titles. He also received a lifetime ban from all sports that follow the , ending his competitive cycling career. The (UCI) upheld USADA's decision and decided that his stripped wins would not be allocated to other riders. In January 2013, Armstrong publicly acknowledged his involvement in doping. In April 2018, Armstrong settled a civil lawsuit with the and agreed to pay US$5 million to the U.S. government after proceedings were commenced by , a former team member.

Contents Early life Armstrong was born Lance Edward Gunderson on September 18, 1971, at Methodist Hospital in , the son of Linda Gayle (née Mooneyham), a secretary, and Eddie Charles Gunderson (died 2012), a route manager for . He is of Canadian, Dutch, and Norwegian descent. He was named after , a wide receiver. His parents divorced in 1973 when Lance was two. The next year, his mother married Terry Keith Armstrong, a wholesale salesman, who adopted Lance that year.

Career Early career Armstrong (center left) during the amateur race at the At the age of 12, Armstrong started his sporting career as a swimmer at the City of Plano Swim Club and finished fourth in Texas state 1,500-meter freestyle. He stopped swimming-only races after seeing a poster for a junior , called the Iron Kids Triathlon, which he won at age 13.

In the 1987–1988 Tri-Fed/Texas ("Tri-Fed" was the former name of ), Armstrong was ranked the number-one triathlete in the 19-and-under group; second place was , who became a US Postal Service cycling teammate and the 2002 . Armstrong's total points in 1987 as an amateur were better than those of five professionals ranked higher than he was that year. At 16, Lance Armstrong became a professional triathlete and became national sprint-course triathlon champion in 1989 and 1990 at 18 and 19, respectively.

Motorola: 1992–96 In 1992 Armstrong turned professional with the , the successor of 7-Eleven team. In 1993, Armstrong won 10 one-day events and stage races, but his breakthrough victory was the held in Norway. Before his World Championships win, he took his first win at the , in the stage from to . He was 97th in the general classification when he retired after stage 12. He collected the Triple Crown of Cycling: the Thrift Drug Classic in , the K-Mart West Virginia Classic, and the in . He is alleged by another cyclist competing in the CoreStates Road Race to have bribed that cyclist so that he would not compete with Armstrong for the win.

In 1994, he again won the Thrift Drug Classic and came second in the in the United States. His successes in Europe occurred when he placed second in and the , where just two years before, he had finished in last place at his first all-pro event in Europe.

In a 2016 speech to professor 's Introduction to Sports Governance class, Armstrong stated he began doping in "late Spring of 1995".

He won the Clásica de San Sebastián in 1995, followed by an overall victory in the penultimate and a handful of stage victories in Europe, including the stage to in the , three days after the death of his teammate , who crashed on the descent of the on the 15th stage. After winning the stage, Armstrong pointed to the sky in honor of Casartelli.

Armstrong's successes were much the same in 1996. He became the first American to win the and again won the Tour DuPont. However, he was able to compete for only five days in the Tour de France. In the , he finished 6th in the and 12th in the road race. In August 1996 following the , Armstrong signed a 2-year, $2m deal with the French . Joining him in signing contracts with the French team were teammates and . Two months later, in October 1996, he was diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer.

Cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery On October 2, 1996, at age 25, Armstrong was diagnosed with (advanced) testicular cancer (). The cancer had to his lymph nodes, lungs, brain, and abdomen. He visited Jim Reeves in Austin, Texas for diagnosis of his symptoms, including a headache, blurred vision, coughing up blood and a swollen testicle. On October 3, Armstrong had an to remove the diseased testicle. When Reeves was asked in a later interview what he thought Armstrong's chances of survival were, he said, "Almost none. We told Lance initially 20 to 50% chance, mainly to give him hope. But with the kind of cancer he had, with the x-rays, the blood tests, almost no hope."

After receiving a letter from Steven Wolff, an oncologist at Vanderbilt University, Armstrong went to the medical center in and decided to receive the rest of his treatment there. The standard treatment for Armstrong's cancer was a "cocktail" of the drugs , , and (or ) (BEP). The first chemotherapy cycle that Armstrong underwent included BEP, but for the three remaining cycles, he was given an alternative, , , and (VIP), to avoid lung toxicity associated with bleomycin. Armstrong credited this with saving his cycling career. At Indiana University, had pioneered the use of cisplatin to treat testicular cancer. Armstrong's primary oncologist there was Craig Nichols. On October 25, his brain lesions which were found to contain extensive , were surgically removed by Scott A. Shapiro, a professor of neurosurgery at Indiana University.

Armstrong's final chemotherapy treatment took place on December 13, 1996. In January 1997, Armstrong unexpectedly appeared at the first training camp of the Cofidis team at Lille, riding 100 km (62 mi) with his new teammates before returning to the United States. In February 1997, he was declared cancer-free. In October, Cofidis announced that his contract would not be extended, after negotiations broke down over a new deal. A former boss at Subaru Montgomery offered him a contract with the US Postal team at a salary of $200,000 a year. By January 1998, Armstrong was engaged in serious training for racing, moving to Europe with the team.

US Postal/Discovery: 1998–2005 Before his cancer treatment, Armstrong had participated in four Tour de France races, winning two stages. In 1993, he won the eighth stage and in 1995; he took stage 18 which he dedicated to teammate who had crashed and died on stage 15. Armstrong dropped out of the 1996 Tour after the fifth stage after becoming ill, a few months before his diagnosis.

Armstrong finishing third in , taking over the Yellow Jersey at .Armstrong's cycling comeback began in 1998 when he finished fourth in the . In 1999 he won the Tour de France, including four stages. He beat the second place rider, , by 7 minutes 37 seconds. However, the absence of (injury) and (drug allegations) meant Armstrong had not yet proven himself against the biggest names in the sport. Stage wins included the prologue, stage eight, an in , an Alpine stage on stage nine, and the second individual time trial on stage 19.

In 2000, Ullrich and Pantani returned to challenge Armstrong. The race began a six-year rivalry between Ullrich and Armstrong and ended in victory for Armstrong by 6 minutes 2 seconds over Ullrich. Armstrong took one stage in the 2000 Tour, the second individual time trial on stage 19. In 2001, Armstrong again took top honors, beating Ullrich by 6 minutes 44 seconds. In 2002, Ullrich did not participate due to suspension, and Armstrong won by seven minutes over .

Armstrong riding the prologue of the The pattern returned in 2003, Armstrong taking first place and Ullrich second. Only a minute and a second separated the two at the end of the final day in Paris. U.S. Postal won the on stage four, while Armstrong took stage 15, despite having been knocked off on the ascent to , the final climb, when a spectator's bag caught his right handlebar. Ullrich waited for him, which brought Ullrich fair-play honors.

In 2004, Armstrong finished first, 6 minutes 19 seconds ahead of German . Ullrich was fourth, a further 2 minutes 31 seconds behind. Armstrong won a personal-best five individual stages, plus the team time trial. He became the first biker since in 1948 to win three consecutive mountain stages; 15, 16, and 17. The individual time trial on stage 16 up was won in style by Armstrong as he passed on the way despite having set out two minutes after the Italian. He won sprint finishes from Basso in stages 13 and 15 and made up a significant gap in the last 250 m to nip Klöden at the line in stage 17. He won the final individual time trial, stage 19, to complete his personal record of stage wins.

Armstrong wearing the yellow jersey at the In 2005, Armstrong was beaten by American in the stage 1 time trial by two seconds, despite having passed Ullrich on the road. His Discovery Channel team won the team time trial, while Armstrong won the final individual time trial. In the mountain stages, Armstrong's lead was attacked multiple times mostly by Ivan Basso, but also by T-mobile leaders Jan Ullrich, Andreas Kloden and Alexandre Vinokourov and former teammate . But still, the American champion handled them well, maintained his lead and, on some occasions, increased it. To complete his record-breaking feat, he crossed the line on the Champs-Élysées on July 24 to win his seventh consecutive Tour, finishing 4 m 40s ahead of Basso, with Ullrich third. Another record achieved that year was that Armstrong completed the tour at the highest pace in the race's history: his average speed over the whole tour was 41.7 km/h (26 mph). In 2005, Armstrong announced he would retire after the , citing his desire to spend more time with his family and his foundation. During his retirement he was unaware of professional cycling but whilst at a conference, in , he saw win on Alpe d'Huez and "felt a pang".

Comeback Astana Pro Team: 2009 See also: Armstrong announced on September 9, 2008, that he would return to pro cycling with the express goal of participating in the . VeloNews reported that Armstrong would race for no salary or bonuses and would post his internally tested blood results online.

Armstrong riding for Astana on Stage 17 of the Australian radio reported on September 24, 2008, that Armstrong would compete in the UCI through and surrounding areas in January 2009. UCI rules say a cyclist has to be in an anti-doping program for six months before an event, but UCI allowed Armstrong to compete. He had to retire from the 2009 Vuelta a Castilla y León during the first stage after crashing in a rider pileup in , Spain, and breaking his . Armstrong flew back to , for corrective surgery, which was successful, and was back training on a bicycle within four days of his operation.

On April 10, 2009, a controversy emerged between the French anti-doping agency and Armstrong and his team manager, , stemming from a March 17, 2009, encounter with an AFLD anti-doping official who visited Armstrong after a training ride in . When the official arrived, Armstrong claims he asked—and was granted—permission to take a shower while Bruyneel checked the official's credentials. In late April, the AFLD cleared Armstrong of any wrongdoing. Armstrong returned to racing after his collarbone injury at the in on April 29.

On July 7, in the fourth stage of the , Armstrong narrowly failed to win the yellow jersey after his Astana team won the . His Astana team won the 39 km lap of but Armstrong ended up just over two tenths of a second (0.22) outside 's overall lead. Armstrong finished the 2009 Tour de France in third place overall, 5:24 behind the overall winner, his Astana teammate .

Team RadioShack: 2010–11 Armstong riding in the in his RadioShack jerseyOn July 21, 2009, Armstrong announced that he would return to the Tour de France in 2010. was named as the main sponsor for Armstrong's 2010 team, named . Armstrong made his 2010 season debut at the where he finished 25th out of the 127 riders who completed the race. He made his European season debut at the finishing in seventh place overall. Armstrong was also set to compete in several classics such as the , , , and the , but bouts with gastroenteritis forced his withdrawal from three of the four races.

Armstrong returned to the United States in mid-April to compete in the Tour of Gila and May's , both as preparation for the Tour de France. However, he crashed outside early in stage 5 of the Tour of California and had to withdraw from the race. He showed fine shape after recovering from the Tour of California crash, placing second in the and third in the .

On June 28, Armstrong announced via Twitter that the would be his final Tour de France. Armstrong put in an impressive performance in the Tour's prologue time trial, finishing third, but was plagued by crashes in later stages that put him out of general classification contention, especially a serious crash in stage 8. He rallied for the brutal Pyrenean stage 16, working as a key player in a successful break that included teammate . He finished his last tour in 23rd place, 39 minutes 20 seconds behind former winner . He was also a key rider in helping Team RadioShack win the team competition, beating Caisse d'Epargne by 9 minutes, 15 seconds. In October, he announced the end of his international career after the in January 2011. He stated that after January 2011, he will race only in the U.S. with the domestic team.

Armstrong announced his retirement from competitive cycling 'for good' on February 16, 2011, while still facing a US federal investigation into doping allegations.

Physical attributes Armstrong has recorded an of 83.8 mL/kg/min (VO2 max), much higher than the average person (40–50), but lower than some other winners, such as (88.0, although reports exist that Indurain tested at 92–94) and (92.5). At his peak, he had a of 32–34 beats per minute (bpm) with a maximum heart rate of 201 bpm.

Collaboration of sponsors Armstrong revolutionized the support behind his well-funded teams, asking sponsors and suppliers to contribute and act as part of the team. For example, rather than having the frame, handlebars, and tires designed and developed by separate companies with little interaction, his teams adopted a relationship with sponsors and suppliers named "F-One", taking full advantage of the combined resources of several organizations working in close communication. The team, , , , Bontrager (a Trek company), , , and , collaborated for an array of products.

Doping allegations, investigation and confession Main articles: and For much of his career, Armstrong faced persistent allegations of doping. Armstrong denied all such allegations until January 2013, often claiming that he never had any positive test in the drug tests he has taken over his cycling career.

Armstrong has been criticized for his disagreements with outspoken opponents of doping such as and . Bassons was a rider for Festina at the time of the and was widely reported by teammates as being the only rider on the team not to be taking performance-enhancing drugs. Bassons wrote a number of articles for a French newspaper during the 1999 Tour de France which made references to doping in the . Subsequently, Armstrong had an altercation with Bassons during the 1999 Tour de France where Bassons said Armstrong rode up alongside on the Alpe d'Huez stage to tell him "it was a mistake to speak out the way I (Bassons) do and he (Armstrong) asked why I was doing it. I told him that I'm thinking of the next generation of riders. Then he said 'Why don't you leave, then?'"

Armstrong confirmed the story. On the main evening news on , a national television station, Armstrong said, "His accusations aren't good for cycling, for his team, for me, for anybody. If he thinks cycling works like that, he's wrong and he would be better off going home". Kimmage, a professional cyclist in the 1980s who later became a sports journalist, referred to Armstrong as a "cancer in cycling". He also asked Armstrong questions in relation to his "admiration for dopers" at a press conference at the Tour of California in 2009, provoking a scathing reaction from Armstrong. This spat continued and is exemplified by Kimmage's articles in .

Armstrong continued to deny the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs for four more years, describing himself as the most tested athlete in the world. From his return to cycling in the fall of 2008 through March 2009, Armstrong claimed to have submitted to 24 unannounced drug tests by various anti-doping authorities.

Working with Michele Ferrari Armstrong was criticized for working with controversial trainer . Ferrari claimed that he was introduced to Lance by in 1995. described himself as "devastated" on hearing of them working together, while Tour de France organizer said, "I am not happy the two names are mixed." Following Ferrari's later-overturned conviction for "sporting fraud" and "abuse of the medical profession", Armstrong claimed he suspended his professional relationship with him, saying that he had "zero tolerance for anyone convicted of using or facilitating the use of performance-enhancing drugs" and denying that Ferrari had ever "suggested, prescribed or provided me with any performance-enhancing drugs."

Though Ferrari was banned from practicing medicine with cyclists by the , according to Italian law enforcement authorities, Armstrong met with Ferrari as late as 2010 in a country outside Italy. According to , " reveals an intimate role played by Dr. Michele Ferrari in masterminding Armstrong's Tour de France success". According to the USADA report, Armstrong paid Ferrari over a million dollars from 1996 to 2006, countering Armstrong's claim that he severed his professional relationship with Ferrari in 2004. The report also includes numerous eyewitness accounts of Ferrari injecting Armstrong with on a number of occasions.

L.A. Confidentiel: 2004 Main article: In 2004, reporters and published a book alleging Armstrong had used performance-enhancing drugs (– Les secrets de Lance Armstrong ). Another figure in the book, , claims he and other riders, including Armstrong, began using drugs in 1995 while members of the Motorola team, a claim denied by other team members.

Among the allegations in the book were claims by Armstrong's former Emma O'Reilly that a backdated prescription for cortisone had been produced in 1999 to avoid a positive test. A 1999 urine sample at the Tour de France showed traces of . A medical certificate showed he used an approved cream for which contained the substance. O'Reilly said she heard team officials worrying about Armstrong's positive test for steroids during the Tour. She said: "They were in a panic, saying: 'What are we going to do? What are we going to do?'"

According to O'Reilly, the solution was to get one of their compliant doctors to issue a pre-dated prescription for a steroid-based ointment to combat saddle sores. He said she would have known if Armstrong had saddle sores as she would have administered any treatment for it. O'Reilly said that Armstrong told her: "Now, Emma, you know enough to bring me down." O'Reilly said on other occasions she was asked to dispose of used syringes for Armstrong and pick up strange parcels for the team.

Allegations in the book were reprinted in (UK) by deputy sports editor Alan English in June 2004. Armstrong sued for libel, and the paper settled out of court after a High Court judge in a pre-trial ruling stated that the article "meant accusation of guilt and not simply reasonable grounds to suspect." The newspaper's lawyers issued the statement: "The Sunday Times has confirmed to Mr. Armstrong that it never intended to accuse him of being guilty of taking any performance-enhancing drugs and sincerely apologized for any such impression." The same authors (Pierre Ballester and David Walsh) subsequently published L.A. Official and Le Sale Tour (The Dirty Trick), further pressing their claims that Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career.

On March 31, 2005, Mike Anderson filed a brief in Travis County District Court in Texas, as part of a legal battle following his termination in November 2004 as an employee of Armstrong. Anderson worked for Armstrong for two years as a personal assistant. In the brief, Anderson claimed that he discovered a box of while cleaning a bathroom in Armstrong's apartment in , Spain. Androstenone is not on the list of banned drugs. Anderson stated in a subsequent deposition that he had no direct knowledge of Armstrong using a banned substance. Armstrong denied the claim and issued a counter-suit. The two men reached an out-of-court settlement in November 2005; the terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

In November 2012, Times Newspapers republished all of Walsh's articles as well as the original "LA Confidential" article by Alan English in Lanced: The shaming of Lance Armstrong. The Times is said to be considering taking action to recoup money from Armstrong in relation to the settlement and court costs.

In December 2012 The Sunday Times filed suit against Armstrong for $1.5 million. In its suit, the paper is seeking a return of the original settlement, plus interest and the cost of defending the original case.

In August 2013, Armstrong and The Sunday Times reached an undisclosed settlement.

Tour de France urine tests: 2005 On August 23, 2005, L'Équipe, a major French daily sports newspaper, reported on its front page under the headline "le mensonge Armstrong" ("The Armstrong Lie") that six urine samples taken from the cyclist during the prologue and five stages of the , frozen and stored since at "Laboratoire national de dépistage du dopage de Châtenay-Malabry" (LNDD), had tested positive for (EPO) in recent retesting conducted as part of a research project into EPO testing methods.

Armstrong immediately replied on his website, saying, "Unfortunately, the witch hunt continues and tomorrow's article is nothing short of tabloid journalism. The paper even admits in its own article that the science in question here is faulty and that I have no way to defend myself. They state: 'There will therefore be no counter-exam nor regulatory prosecutions, in a strict sense, since defendant's rights cannot be respected.' I will simply restate what I have said many times: I have never taken performance enhancing drugs."

In October 2005, in response to calls from the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for an independent investigation, the UCI appointed Dutch lawyer Emile Vrijman to investigate the handling of urine tests by the French national anti-doping laboratory, LNDD. Vrijman was head of the Dutch anti-doping agency for ten years; since then he has worked as a defense attorney defending high-profile athletes against doping charges. Vrijman's report cleared Armstrong because of improper handling and testing. The report said tests on urine samples were conducted improperly and fell so short of scientific standards that it was "completely irresponsible" to suggest they "constitute evidence of anything."

The recommendation of the commission's report was no disciplinary action against any rider on the basis of LNDD research. It also called upon the WADA and LNDD to submit themselves to an investigation by an outside independent authority. The IOC Ethics Commission subsequently censured , the President of WADA and a member of the IOC, for his statements in the media that suggested wrongdoing by Armstrong. In April 2009, Michael Ashenden said "the LNDD absolutely had no way of knowing athlete identity from the sample they're given. They have a number on them, but that's never linked to an athlete's name. The only group that had both the number and the athlete's name is the federation, in this case it was the UCI." He added "There was only two conceivable ways that synthetic could've gotten into those samples. One, is that Lance Armstrong used EPO during the '99 Tour. The other way it could've got in the urine was if, as Lance Armstrong seems to believe, the laboratory spiked those samples. Now, that's an extraordinary claim, and there's never ever been any evidence the laboratory has ever spiked an athlete's sample, even during the Cold War, where you would've thought there was a real political motive to frame an athlete from a different country. There's never been any suggestion that it happened."

Ashenden's statements are at odds with the findings of the Vrijman report. "According to Mr. Ressiot, the manner in which the LNDD had structured the results table of its report – i.e. listing the sequence of each of the batches, as well as the exact number of urine samples per batch, in the same (chronological) order as the stages of the 1999 Tour de France they were collected at – was already sufficient to allow him to determine the exact stage these urine samples referred to and subsequently the identity of the riders who were tested at that stage." The Vrijman report also says "Le Monde of July 21 and 23, 1999 reveal that the press knew the contents of original doping forms of the 1999 Tour de France".

SCA Promotions case: 2005–2015 In June 2006, French newspaper reported claims by Betsy and during a deposition that Armstrong had admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs to his physician just after brain surgery in 1996. The Andreus' testimony was related to litigation between Armstrong and SCA Promotions, a Texas company attempting to withhold a $5-million bonus; this was settled out of court with SCA paying Armstrong and Tailwind Sports $7.5 million, to cover the $5-million bonus plus interest and lawyers' fees. The testimony stated "And so the doctor asked him a few questions, not many, and then one of the questions he asked was ... have you ever used any performance-enhancing drugs? And Lance said yes. And the doctor asked, what were they? And Lance said, , , , and ."

Armstrong suggested Betsy Andreu may have been confused by possible mention of his post-operative treatment which included steroids and EPO that are taken to counteract wasting and red-blood-cell-destroying effects of intensive chemotherapy. The Andreus' allegation was not supported by any of the eight other people present, including Armstrong's doctor Craig Nichols, or his medical history. According to Greg LeMond (who has been with his own disputes with Armstrong), he (LeMond) had a recorded conversation, the transcript of which was reviewed by (NPR), with Stephanie McIlvain (Armstrong's contact at Oakley Inc.) in which she said of Armstrong's alleged admission 'You know, I was in that room. I heard it.' However, McIlvain has contradicted LeMond's allegations on the issue and denied under oath that the incident in question ever occurred in her sworn testimony.

In July 2006, the published a story on the allegations raised in the SCA case. The report cited evidence at the trial, including the results of the LNDD test and an analysis of these results by an expert witness. From the Los Angeles Times article: "The results, Australian researcher Michael Ashenden testified in Dallas, show Armstrong's levels rising and falling, consistent with a series of injections during the Tour. Ashenden, a paid expert retained by SCA Promotions, told arbitrators that the results painted a "compelling picture" that the world's most famous cyclist "used EPO in the '99 Tour."

Ashenden's finding were disputed by the Vrijman report, which pointed to procedural and privacy issues in dismissing the LNDD test results. The Los Angeles Times article also provided information on testimony given by Armstrong's former teammate, Swart, Andreu and his wife Betsy, and conversation between Andreu and regarding blood-doping in the peloton. Vaughters signed a statement disavowing the comments and stating he had: "no personal knowledge that any team in the Tour de France, including Armstrong's Discovery team in 2005, engaged in any prohibited conduct whatsoever." Andreu signed a statement affirming the conversation took place as indicated on the instant messaging logs submitted to the court.

The SCA trial was settled out of court, and the Los Angeles Times reported: "Though no verdict or finding of facts was rendered, Armstrong called the outcome proof that the doping allegations were baseless." The Los Angeles Times article provides a review of the disputed positive EPO test, allegations and sworn testimony against Armstrong, but notes that: "They are filled with conflicting testimony, hearsay and circumstantial evidence admissible in arbitration hearings but questionable in more formal legal proceedings."

In October 2012, following the publication of the USADA reasoned decision, SCA Promotions announced its intention to recoup the monies paid to Armstrong totaling in excess of $7 million. Armstrong's legal representative Tim Herman stated in June: "When SCA decided to settle the case, it settled the entire matter forever. No backs. No re-dos. No do-overs. SCA knowingly and independently waived any right to make further claims to any of the money it paid." SCA's Jeff Dorough stated that on October 30, 2012, Armstrong was sent a formal request for the return of $12m in bonuses. It is alleged that Armstrong's legal team has offered a settlement of $1 million.

On February 4, 2015 the arbitration panel decided 2-1 in SCA's favor and ordered Armstrong and Tailwind Sports Corp to pay SCA $10 million. The panel's decision was referred to the Texas 116th Civil District Court in Dallas on February 16, 2015 for confirmation. Panel members Richard Faulkner and Richard Chernick sided with SCA; Ted Lyon sided with Armstrong. Armstrong's attorney Tim Herman stated that the panel's ruling was contrary to Texas law and expected that the court would overturn it. The panel's decision said, in part, about Armstrong that, "Perjury must never be profitable" and "it is almost certainly the most devious sustained deception ever perpetrated in world sporting history."

On September 27, 2015, Armstrong and SCA agreed to a settlement. Armstrong issued a formal, public apology and agreed to pay SCA an undisclosed sum.

Federal investigation: 2010–2012 Main article: In a series of emails in May 2010, admitted to doping and accused Armstrong and others of the same. Based on Landis's allegations, federal prosecutors led an investigation into possible crimes conducted by Armstrong and the U.S. Postal Service Cycling Team. The and federal agent were also involved in the investigation. In June 2010, Armstrong hired a criminal defense attorney to represent him in the investigation. The hiring was first reported in July when Armstrong was competing in the .

On February 3, 2012, federal prosecutors officially dropped their criminal investigation with no charges. The closing of the case was announced "without an explanation" by U.S. Attorney André Birotte, Jr. When Novitzky was asked to comment on it, he declined.

In February 2013, a month after Armstrong admitted to doping, the Justice Department joined Landis's whistleblower lawsuit to recover government funding given to Armstrong's cycling team.

USADA investigation and admission of guilt: 2011–2013 Main article: In June 2012, the (USADA) accused Armstrong of doping and trafficking of drugs, based on blood samples from 2009 and 2010, and testimonies from witnesses including former teammates. Further, he was accused of putting pressure on teammates to take unauthorized performance-enhancing drugs as well. In October 2012, USADA formally charged him with running a massive doping ring. It also sought to ban him from participating in sports sanctioned by WADA for life. Armstrong chose not to appeal the findings, saying it would not be worth the toll on his family. As a result, he was stripped of all of his achievements from August 1998 onward, including his seven Tour de France titles. He also received a lifetime ban from all sports that follow the ; this ended his competitive cycling career. The (UCI) upheld USADA's decision and decided that his stripped wins would not be allocated to other riders.

After years of public denials, in a January 2013 interview with , Armstrong reversed course and admitted to doping. While admitting wrongdoing in the interview, he also said it was "absolutely not" true that he was doping in 2009 or 2010, and claimed that the last time he "crossed the line" was in 2005. In September 2013, he was asked by UCI's new president, , to testify about his doping. Armstrong refused to testify until and unless he received complete amnesty, which Cookson said was most unlikely to happen.

After USADA's report, all of Armstrong's sponsors dropped him. He reportedly lost $75 million of sponsorship income in a day. On May 28, 2013, Nike announced that it would be cutting all ties to Livestrong. In the aftermath of Armstrong's fall from grace, a article wrote that "The epic downfall of cycling's star, once an idolized icon of millions around the globe, stands out in the history of professional sports." In a 2015 interview with , Armstrong stated that if it was still 1995, he would "probably do it again".

Whistleblower lawsuit: 2010–2018 In 2010, one of Armstrong's former teammates, the American , whose victory was nullified after a positive doping test, sent a series of emails to cycling officials and sponsors admitting to, and detailing, his systematic use of performance-enhancing drugs during his career. The emails also claimed that other riders and cycling officials participated in doping, including Armstrong.

Landis filed a federal lawsuit against Armstrong under the federal False Claims Act. The False Claims Act allows citizens to sue on behalf of the government alleging the government has been defrauded. The existence of the lawsuit, initially filed under seal, was first revealed by in 2010. In the lawsuit, Landis alleged that Armstrong and team managers defrauded the US government when they accepted money from the US Postal Service. In January 2013, officials recommended joining the federal lawsuit aimed at clawing back money from Armstrong.

In February, the US Department of Justice joined the whistleblower lawsuit, which also accused former Postal Service team director and Tailwind Sports, the firm that managed the US Postal Service team, of defrauding the US.

In April 2014, documents from the AIC case were filed by lawyers representing Landis in relation to the whistleblower suit. In these documents, Armstrong stated under oath that Jose "Pepi" Marti, Dr Pedro Celaya, Dr Luis Garcia del Moral and Dr Michele Ferrari had all provided him with doping products in the period up until 2005. He also named people who had transported or acted as couriers, as well as people that were aware of his doping practices. One week later, the USADA banned Bruyneel from cycling for ten years and Celaya and Marti for eight years.

In June 2014, US district judge Robert Wilkins denied Armstrong's request to dismiss the government lawsuit stating "The court denies without prejudice the defendants' motion to dismiss the government's action as time-barred."

In February 2017, the court determined that the federal government's US$100 million civil lawsuit against Armstrong, started by Landis, would proceed to trial. The matter was settled in April 2018 when Armstrong agreed to pay the United States Government US$ 5 million. During the proceedings it was revealed that the US Postal Service had paid US$31 million in sponsorship to Armstrong and Tailwind Sports between 2001 and 2004. The Department of Justice accused Armstrong of violating his contract with the USPS and committing fraud when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs. It was reported that Landis would receive US$1.1 million as a result of his whistleblower actions.

Other lawsuits: 2010 to present In November 2013, Armstrong settled a lawsuit with Acceptance Insurance Company (AIC). AIC had sought to recover $3 million it had paid Armstrong as bonuses for winning the Tour de France from 1999 to 2001. The suit was settled for an undisclosed sum one day before Armstrong was scheduled to give a deposition under oath.

Personal life Armstrong (center) on the set of during the Armstrong owns homes in , and , as well as a ranch in the .

Relationships and children Armstrong met Kristin Richard in June 1997. They married on May 1, 1998, and had three children. The pregnancies were made possible through sperm Armstrong banked three years earlier, before chemotherapy and surgery. The couple divorced in 2003. At Armstrong's request, his children flew to Paris for the Tour de France podium ceremony in 2005, where his son Luke helped his father hoist the trophy, while his daughters (in yellow dresses) held the stuffed lion mascot and bouquet of yellow flowers.

Lance and Kristin Armstrong announced their divorce in 2003, the same year that Lance began dating singer-songwriter . The couple announced their in September 2005 and their split in February 2006.

In July 2008, Armstrong began dating Anna Hansen after meeting through Armstrong's charity work. In December 2008, Armstrong announced that Hansen was pregnant with the couple's first child. Although it was believed that Armstrong could no longer father children, due to having undergone chemotherapy for testicular cancer, this child was conceived naturally. Armstrong announced the birth of his fourth child via , just as he would do for his fifth child.

Politics President and Armstrong mountain biking at the president's .In a article, teammate hinted that Armstrong would run for after cycling. In the July 2005 issue of magazine, Armstrong hinted at running for governor, although "not in '06". Armstrong and former president , a and fellow Texan, call themselves friends. Bush called Armstrong in France to congratulate him after his 2005 victory. In August 2005, reported the President had invited Armstrong to his to go . In a 2003 interview with , Armstrong said: "He's a personal friend, but we've all got the right not to agree with our friends."

In August 2005, Armstrong hinted he had changed his mind about politics. In an interview with on on August 1, 2005, Armstrong pointed out that running for governor would require the commitment that led him to retire from cycling. Also, in August 2005, Armstrong said that he was no longer considering politics:

> The biggest problem with politics or running for the governor—the governor's race here in Austin or in Texas—is that it would mimic exactly what I've done: a ton of stress and a ton of time away from my kids. Why would I want to go from pro cycling, which is stressful and a lot of time away, straight into politics?

Armstrong created a YouTube video in 2007 with former President to successfully pass , a US$3 billion taxpayer bond initiative which created the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.

Armstrong was co-chair of a California campaign committee to pass the , a ballot measure defeated by California voters on June 5, 2012. Had it passed, the measure was projected to generate over $500 million annually for cancer research, smoking-cessation programs and tobacco law-enforcement by levying a $1-per-pack tax on tobacco products in California.

Armstrong endorsed Democratic Congressman against Republican incumbent Senator in the 2018 election.

Outside cycling In 1997, Armstrong founded the , which supports people affected by cancer. The foundation raises awareness of cancer and has raised more than $325 million from the sale of yellow . During his first retirement beginning after the 2005 season, he also maintained other interests. He was the of the for the . In 2007, Armstrong with , , , , , , , , , , and founded , a charity that helps professional athletes become involved in charitable causes and aims to inspire non-athletes to volunteer and support the community.

In August 2009, Armstrong headlined the inaugural charity ride "Pelotonia" in Columbus, Ohio, riding over 100 miles on Saturday with the large group of cyclists. He addressed the riders the Friday evening before the two-day ride and helped the ride raise millions for cancer research. Armstrong ran the 2006 with two friends. He assembled a pace team of , , and to help him reach three hours. He finished in 2h 59m 36s, in 856th place. He said the race was extremely difficult compared to the Tour de France. The NYC Marathon had a dedicated camera on Armstrong throughout the event which, according to Armstrong, pushed him to continue through points in which he would have normally "stopped and stretched". He also helped raise $600,000 for his campaign during the run. Armstrong ran the 2007 NYC Marathon in 2h 46m 43s, finishing 232nd. On April 21, 2008, he ran the in 2h 50m 58s, finishing in the top 500.

Armstrong made a return to triathlon in 2011 by competing in the off-road race series. He took fourth place at the XTERRA USA Nationals in Ogden, Utah and then competed in the XTERRA World Championships in Maui. At the Championships Armstrong led for a time before crashing out on the bike and finishing in 23rd place. The following year, in 2012, Armstrong began pursuing qualification into the . He made his return to long distance triathlon in the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Panama race, on February 12, 2012. He finished with a time of 3:50:55, second overall to . He also entered half-Ironman distance races in Texas (7th) and St. Croix (3rd) before breaking through with victories at Ironman 70.3 Florida and Ironman 70.3 Hawaii. He was scheduled to next participate in Ironman France on June 24. However, the June suspension by USADA and eventual ban by WADA prohibited Armstrong from further racing Ironman branded events due to anti-doping policies.

In July 2011 and July 2013, Armstrong participated in the non-competitive .

Business and investments "10/2" redirects here. For other uses, see .Armstrong owns a coffee shop in downtown Austin, Texas called "Juan Pelota Cafe". The name is a joking reference to his testicular cancer, with the name "Juan" being considered by some a for "one" and "Pelota" being the Spanish word for "ball". In the same building, Armstrong owns and operates a bike shop named "Mellow Johnny's", after another nickname of his derived from the Tour term "maillot jaune", which is French for yellow jersey, the jersey given to the leader of the .

In 2001, Armstrong provided funding to launch , a non-profit organization in Austin, Texas that provides counseling and support for children who have a parent with a serious or life-threatening disease.

A line of cycling clothing from , 10//2, was named after the date (October 2, 1996) that Armstrong was diagnosed with .

In 2008 Armstrong bought several million dollars of stock in the American bicycle component manufacturer , and has served as their technical advisor. SRAM bought those shares back from him in preparation for a public offering. Armstrong owns a small share of .

Media In 2017, Armstrong started a podcast named "The Move", which provided daily coverage of the in 2018 and 2019. He also appeared—without compensation—on NBC Sports Network's live Tour de France television broadcasts. The UCI indicated the podcast and NBC appearances did not violate the terms of his ban.

Career achievements Major results 19911st , National Junior Road Championships19921st Overall1st Stage 21st Stage 6 1st Stage 4a Vuelta a Galicia1st Stage 2 Trittico Premondiale1st First Union Grand Prix2nd 19931st , 1st , National Road Championships1st Stage 8 1st Overall Kmart West Virginia Classic1st Prologue & Stage 11st Overall Tour of America1st 1st Thrift Drug Classic2nd Overall1st Stage 53rd Overall1st Stage 319941st Thrift Drug Classic1st Stage 7 2nd 2nd 19951st Stage 18 1st 1st Stage 5 1st Overall1st Mountains classification1st Stages 4, 5 & 91st Overall Kmart West Virginia Classic1st Stage 419961st Overall1st Stages 2, 3b, 5, 6 & 121st 2nd Overall 2nd 19981st Overall1st Stage 11st Overall 1st 1st Sprint 56K CriteriumVoided results from August 1998 onward4th Overall 4th , 19991st Overall 1st Prologue, Stages 8, 9 & 191st Prologue 1st Stage 4 1st Stage 4 () 1st 2nd 20001st Overall 1st Stage 19 ()1st 1st 1st Stage 3 () 3rd , 20011st Overall 1st Stages 10, 11, 13 & 181st Overall 1st Stages 1 & 82nd 20021st Overall 1st Prologue, Stages 11, 12 & 191st Overall 1st Stage 61st Overall 1st 20031st Overall 1st Stages 4 () & 151st Overall 1st Stage 3 ()20041st Overall 1st Stages 4 (), 13, 15, 16 (), 17 & 19 ()1st Overall 1st Stages 3 & 41st Stage 5 1st Stage 4 () 1st 20051st Overall 1st Stages 4 () & 20 ()1st Points classification 20082nd 1st 12 Hours of Snowmass1st Individual Time Trial Tour de Gruene1st TTT Tour de Gruene 20091st 1st Colorado Pro Cross-Country Championships1st Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race2nd Overall 3rd Overall 1st Stage 4 ()20102nd Overall 3rd Overall 7th Overall Triathlon & Ironman20115th XTERRA USA Championships20121st Hawaii1st Ironman 70.3 Florida3rd Ironman 70.3 St. Croix7th Ironman 70.3 Texas2nd Ironman 70.3 Panama2nd Power of Four Mountain Bike RaceGrand Tour general classification results timeline Race19931994199519961998199920002001200220032004200520092010Voided results struck through.

Filmography Accolades Rescinded awards

See also Notes and references NotesReferencesBibliography Further reading External links Lance Armstrongat Wikipedia's Awards and achievementsPreceded by winner 2000Succeeded by Preceded by

1999 2001–2003Succeeded by

Preceded by

2000Succeeded by MainBooksFilms/TVOther UCI Road World Champions – Cross-cutterIndividualDiscontinuedAward ceremonies winnersLaureates of the for Sports1980s1990s2000s2010s [//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1] Retrieved from "": Hidden categories: Lance Armstrong Estimates He Told 10,000 Lies During His Scandal ...

Lance Armstrong Estimates He Told 10,000 Lies During His Scandal ...

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[https://i.insider.com/576ec66852bcd024008cbc3c?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Lance Edward Armstrong. Pascal Rondeau/ALLSPORT/Getty Images

Disgraced former American cyclist on Thursday . The charges were related to his use of performance-enhancing drugs during his professional racing career.

It ended a protracted legal battle that involved former teammate Floyd Landis and the US government on behalf of the US Postal Service, Armstrong's team sponsor from 1999 through 2005. Landis had filed the original lawsuit — which had sought $100 million — in 2010 and is eligible for up to 25% of the settlement.

The deal came as the two sides prepared for a trial that was scheduled to start May 7 in Washington, The Associated Press reported. he was happy to have "made peace with the Postal Service."

For a decade, Armstrong was not only one of the world's most dominant athletes but one of its most recognizable figures. Armstrong did what no one had ever done: He won the Tour de France seven times, and he did so consecutively from 1999 to 2005.

But that was all before the found that his team had run " that sport has ever seen."

As we know now, Armstrong used a variety of performance-enhancing drugs, and all his wins in the greatest bicycle race were eventually stripped from him.

As recently as 2016 , calling it "one of the most ineffective and inefficient organizations in the world" and claiming its CEO, Travis Tygart, went after him only because he needed a case and a story.

Armstrong didn't act alone, and it was, darkly so, a team effort. A calculating tactician, handpicked his teammates carefully, and together they were cycling's most successful team.

Several of the riders who served under Armstrong's tainted reign are still involved in the sport.

Here's a look at what he and his old teammates have been up to:

An indelible image from the era was that of the US Postal Service's "Blue Train" setting a blistering pace at the front of the peloton, one that no one could match, let alone beat. [https://i.insider.com/576ec77e910584155c8cb8ff?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] The US Postal Service Team leads Armstrong, in yellow, at the 2000 Tour. Doug Pensinger/Allsport/Getty Images Levi Leipheimer was an all-rounder who rode with Armstrong on a few different teams at the Tour. He later admitted doping during his career. [https://i.insider.com/576ebb559105841c008cb9cc?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Armstrong and Leipheimer at the 2009 Tour of California. Doug Pensinger/Getty Images Source:

He now lives in Santa Rosa, California, where he runs a mass-participation bike ride. He also does promotion videos and coaches cyclists. [https://i.insider.com/576e9fec52bcd01d7b8cb81d?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Leipheimer in a promotional ad for Visit Mammoth in 2016. Sources: ,

Kevin Livingston was a climber who rode on two of Armstrong's Tour-winning teams. A French Senate report accused Livingston of using EPO in the 1998 Tour. [https://i.insider.com/576e9e9652bcd01b008cbd60?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Doug Pensinger/Allsport/Getty Images Sources: ,

Livingston now lives in Austin, Texas, where he runs a company that coaches cyclists. It's located in the basement of Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop, which is owned by Armstrong. [https://i.insider.com/576e9d8452bcd029008cbbf8?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Livingston in his Pedal Hard studio in 2016. Source:

Tyler Hamilton helped Armstrong win Tours by leading him through the Alps and Pyrenees. He later admitted doping during his career. [https://i.insider.com/5586a72f69beddbb17baa14b?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Hamilton, right, leads Armstrong to his first Tour win in 1999. Reuters Source:

Hamilton now lives in Missoula, Montana. He works in real estate and helps run a company that coaches cyclists. He also gives talks. He wrote a tell-all best-seller, "The Secret Race." [https://i.insider.com/576e9419910584cc5e8cb7f0?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Hamilton speaking in New Zealand in 2016. Sources: , ""

George Hincapie was Armstrong's most loyal and trusted teammate and the only person to ride on all seven of Armstrong's Tour-winning teams. He admitted doping during his career. [https://i.insider.com/576e88fe910584155c8cb8c5?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Robert Laberge/Getty Images Source:

He now lives in Greenville, South Carolina, where he runs a cycling-apparel company and a mass-participation bike ride. He wrote a book, "The Loyal Lieutenant," about his career. [https://i.insider.com/576e975352bcd05b008cbb3d?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Hincapie in a promotional ad for Peloton Cycle in 2016. Sources: ""

Floyd Landis was an all-rounder who helped Armstrong win Tours and won one himself. He, too, was stripped of his Tour title because of PEDs. [https://i.insider.com/558742246da811502f7cbc8e?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Landis, front and center, leads the US Postal Service team in the 2003 Tour. Doug Pensinger/Getty Source:

In 2016 Landis started a business that sells cannabis products. [https://i.insider.com/576e8eda9105844e018cbac1?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Landis opened a new cannabis business in Colorado in 2016. Courtesy of Floyd Landis Related:

Frankie Andreu was a cocaptain of the US Postal team with Armstrong in 1998, 1999, and 2000. He was one of the first riders to admit he had doped to help Armstrong win the Tour. [https://i.insider.com/55868e5569bedd6972baa14d?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] 15 Jul 2000: Frankie Andreu of the U.S. Postal Service Team riding uphill during Stage 14, Draguignan to Briancon, France of the Tour de France. (Credit: Mike Powell/Allsport/Getty) Mike Powell/Allsport/Getty Sources: ,

Andreu lives in the Detroit area and works in domestic cycling as a commentator. [https://i.insider.com/576e8b2b9105841d008cbaff?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Andreu at the 2016 Tour of California with commentators Phil Liggett, left, and Paul Sherwen, right. Sources: ,

Related:

Christian Vande Velde rode on the first two of Armstrong's Tour-winning teams. He later admitted doping during his career. [https://i.insider.com/5586c8ca69beddda7cbaa14b?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Vande Velde, center, and Armstrong at the 1999 Tour. Reuters Source:

Vande Velde lives in Greenville, South Carolina, and works as a cycling commentator for NBC. [https://i.insider.com/576e960b91058427008cb9c3?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Vande Velde in a promotional ad for Peloton Cycle in 2016. Sources: , ,

Tom Danielson was hailed as "the next Lance Armstrong," and though he didn't race the Tour with Armstrong, they were teammates for a few years. He admitted doping. [https://i.insider.com/576ec0ec9105842b008cb9cc?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Danielson and Armstrong at the 2005 Tour de Georgia, the year Armstrong won his seventh Tour. Jamie Squire/Getty Images Sources: ,

Danielson is currently provisionally suspended after testing positive for synthetic testosterone. He could face a lifetime ban from cycling, having previously admitted doping while riding with the Discovery Channel team. He lives in Boulder, Colorado, and has written a book on training for cycling. He owns a company that runs training camps for cyclists. [https://i.insider.com/576ec2d7910584145c8cb829?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Danielson in a 2016 promotional ad. Sources: , , ""

Dave Zabriskie was a strong time-trial rider and a teammate of Armstrong for a few years. He later admitted doping during his career. [https://i.insider.com/5586e4966bb3f77128b73204?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Zabriskie and Armstrong at the 2005 Tour. Robert Laberge/Getty Source:

He now lives in Los Angeles, where he runs a company that makes chamois cream. [https://i.insider.com/55878937eab8ea8e50bff0f2?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Zabriskie at the Interbike trade show in Las Vegas in 2014. Source:

Jonathan Vaughters took the start with Armstrong's Tour-winning team in 1999, but he crashed out on stage two. He later admitted doping during his career. [https://i.insider.com/558734f26bb3f72017b73203?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Vaughters with Armstrong and Armstrong's then wife, Kristin, in 1998. Source:

He now manages a team that competes in the Tour de France. He is outspoken against doping. [https://i.insider.com/569d51b3e6183e9d408b9ee2?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Vaughters in 2013. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Source:

Related:

Belgian Johan Bruyneel was Armstrong's team director during his seven Tour wins. [https://i.insider.com/558751bb6bb3f7bf15b73203?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Bruyneel and Armstrong at the 2005 Tour. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini Source:

He now lives in Madrid and London. USADA handed him a 10-year ban from cycling for being "at the apex of a conspiracy to commit widespread doping." [https://i.insider.com/558754b669beddab71baa14b?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] REUTERS/Thierry Roge Sources: ,

Armstrong made history by winning a record seven Tours de France but was later stripped of his titles because he used PEDs. [https://i.insider.com/5586c2e16da811f9747cbc8d?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Armstrong races in the 2004 Tour. After the 2005 race, he said: "To the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the skeptics: I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles." Reuters Source:

Armstrong now owns multimillion-dollar properties in Aspen, Colorado, and Austin, Texas. He settled federal fraud charges against him for $5 million on April 19, 2018, ending a protracted legal battle with former teammate Floyd Landis. Banned from cycling for life, Armstrong sought counseling after his doping confession. He launched a podcast in June 2016. [https://i.insider.com/55869e9fecad048c66c31627?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp] Armstrong in a 2015 interview with the BBC: "If you take me back to 1995, when doping was completely pervasive, I would probably do it again." Sources: , ,

SEE ALSO: More: Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. From The WebFrom The WebUndoUndoUndoUndoUndoUndoUndoUndo Find A Job [https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1988166924554892&ev=PageView &noscript=1] Lance Armstrong is sports' most complex villain

Lance Armstrong is sports' most complex villain

By GENEVA — Lance Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned for life by cycling's governing body today following a report from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency that accused him of leading a massive doping program on his teams.

President Pat McQuaid announced that the federation accepted the USADA's report on Armstrong and would not appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. "Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling and he deserves to be forgotten in cycling," McQuaid said at a news conference. "This is a landmark day for cycling."

The decision clears the way for Tour de France organizers to officially remove Armstrong's name from the record books, erasing his consecutive victories from 1999-2005.

Lance Armstrong riding down the Champs Elysees with an American flag after the 21st and final stage of the Tour de France in Paris in 2000. He has had his seven tour titles stripped by the International Cycling Union. AP Photo/Laurent Rebours, FileTour director Christian Prudhomme has said the race would go along with whatever cycling's governing body decides and will have no official winners for those years.

Armstrong's representatives had no immediate comment.

USADA said Armstrong should be banned and stripped of his Tour titles for "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen" within his U.S. Postal Service and Discovery Channel teams. Under the penalties, he loses all his race results since August 1998.

The USADA report said Armstrong and his teams used steroids, the blood booster EPO and blood transfusions. The report included statements from 11 former teammates who testified against Armstrong, including testimony that he pressured them to take banned drugs.

"I was sickened by what I read in the USADA report," McQuaid said, singling out the testimony of former Armstrong teammate David Zabriskie. "The story he told of how he was coerced and to some extent forced into doping is just mind boggling."

Armstrong denies doping, saying he passed hundreds of drug tests. But he chose not to fight USADA in one of the agency's arbitration hearings, arguing the process was biased against him. USADA's report, released earlier this month, was aimed at showing why the agency ordered the sanctions against him.

"At the moment Lance Armstrong hasn't admitted to anything, yet all the evidence is there in this report that he doped," McQuaid said.

Former Armstrong team director Johan Bruyneel is also facing doping charges, but he is challenging the USADA case in arbitration.

On Sunday, Armstrong greeted about 4,300 cyclists at his Livestrong charity's fundraiser bike ride in Texas, telling the crowd he's faced a "very difficult" few weeks.

"I've been better, but I've also been worse," Armstrong, a cancer survivor, told the crowd.

While drug use allegations have followed the 41-year-old Armstrong throughout much of his career, the USADA report seems to have marked a turning point in the saga. Longtime sponsors Nike, Trek Bicycles and Anheuser-Busch dropped Armstrong last week, as did other companies, and he stepped down as chairman of Livestrong, the cancer awareness charity he founded 15 years ago after surviving testicular cancer which spread to his lungs and brain.

Armstrong's astonishing return from life-threatening illness to the summit of cycling offered an inspirational story that transcended the sport. However, his downfall has ended "one of the most sordid chapters in sports history," USADA said in its 200-page report published two weeks ago.

Armstrong has consistently argued that the USADA system was rigged against him, calling the agency's effort a "witch hunt" which pressured witnesses into cooperating.

"It is for Mr. Armstrong to defend himself against such witness statements that he deems to be incorrect. It is not for the UCI to do so," the governing body said in a statement.

If Armstrong's Tour victories are not reassigned there would be a hole in the record books, marking a shift from how organizers treated similar cases in the past.

When Alberto Contador was stripped of his 2010 Tour victory for a doping violation, organizers awarded the title to Andy Schleck. In 2006, Oscar Pereiro was awarded the victory after the doping disqualification of American rider Floyd Landis.

USADA's position is that the Tour titles should not be given to other riders who finished on the podium, such was the level of doping during Armstrong's era.

The agency said 20 of the 21 riders on the podium in the Tour from 1999 through 2005 have been "directly tied to likely doping through admissions, sanctions, public investigations" or other means. It added that of the 45 riders on the podium between 1996 and 2010, 36 were by cyclists "similarly tainted by doping."

The world's most famous cyclist could still face further sports sanctions and legal challenges. Armstrong could lose his 2000 Olympic time-trial bronze medal and may be targeted with civil lawsuits from ex-sponsors or even the U.S. government.

McQuaid said the UCI's board will meet Friday to discuss the Olympic issue and whether to update other race results taking account of Armstrong's disqualifications.

A so-called "Truth and Reconciliation" commission, which could offer a limited amnesty to riders and officials who confessed to doping practices, will also be discussed, UCI legal adviser Philippe Verbiest said.

In total, 26 people — including 15 riders — testified to USADA that Armstrong and his teams used and trafficked banned substances and routinely used blood transfusions. Among the witnesses were loyal sidekick George Hincapie and admitted dopers Tyler Hamilton and Landis.

USADA's case also implicated Italian sports doctor Michele Ferrari, depicted as the architect of doping programs, and longtime coach and team manager Bruyneel. Ferrari — who has been targeted in an Italian prosecutor's probe — and another medical official, Dr. Luis Garcia del Moral, received lifetime bans.

Bruyneel, team doctor Pedro Celaya and trainer Jose "Pepe" Marti opted to take their cases to arbitration with USADA. The agency could call Armstrong as a witness at those hearings.

Bruyneel, a Belgian former Tour de France rider, lost his job last week as manager of the RadioShack-Nissan Trek team which Armstrong helped found to ride for in the 2010 season.

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