Armstrong Finally Confesses To Doping

Lance Armstrong has finally admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs during all seven of his Tour de France victories, ending years of denials, during his interview with American chat show host Oprah Winfrey.

Tens of millions worldwide watched the 41-year-old confess to using a number of banned substances, including Erythropoietin (EPO) – which increases red blood cell production, oxygen transportation and, consequently, endurance. 

The Texan, who had his Olympic bronze medal taken away yesterday by the IOC, also admitted to taking testosterone, cortisone and human growth hormone as well as having blood transfusions.

Armstrong claimed that doping was part of the required process in order to win the Tour and did not view the practice as cheating, rather ‘leveling the playing field’ and did not fear getting caught. 

Cycling’s governing body, the UCI, has since welcomed Armstrong’s decision to come clean after a detailed report last year claimed the cyclist had led ‘the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme sport has ever seen.’

Asked if doping was part of the process required to win the Tour, he said: ‘That’s like saying we have to have air in our tyres or water in our bottles. It was part of the job.’

He denied riders had to comply to a doping programme in order to compete for his US Postal Service/Discovery Channel team, but admitted a certain amount of control.

‘I was a bully. I was a bully in the sense that I tried to control the narrative and if I didn’t like what someone said I turned on them.’

On not getting caught, Armstrong explained: ‘Back then they didn’t come to your house and there was no testing out of competition and for most of my career there wasn’t that much out-of-competition testing so you’re not going to get caught because you clean up for the races.’

He also admitted receiving a back-dated therapeutic user exemption certificate for a cream containing steroids at the 1999 Tour to ensure he did not test positive.

Armstrong, who retired from cycling in 2005 before a return between 2009 and 2012, revealed he thought his fate was sealed when he discovered that George Hincapie, the only man to ride in the same team as Lance for all seven Tour wins, had given evidence against him last year. 

Amongst the numerous admissions, he denied making a $100,000 donation in 2005 to the UCI, to cover up a failed drugs test. 

‘It was not in exchange for help. They called. They didn’t have a lot of money. I did. They asked if I would make a donation so I did.’

The interview was broadcast on the Discovery Channel in the UK early this morning.