The champion cyclist has steadfastly maintained that he never took performance-enhancing drugs. But a 500-page report released today by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency indicates otherwise.
First, USADA issued a press release that states plainly that Armstrong and his teammates were doping.
Image by Lucas Jackson / Reuters
"The evidence shows beyond any doubt that the US Postal Service Pro Cycling Team ran the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen," USADA head Travis Tygart wrote in the statement.
Via: usada.org
Image by Christinne Muschi / Reuters
In a statement sent to BuzzFeed on behalf of Armstrong, from his attorney:
We have seen the press release from USADA touting the upcoming release today of its "reasoned decision." Tygart’s statement confirms the alleged “reasoned decision” from USADA will be a one-sided hatchet job - a taxpayer funded tabloid piece rehashing old, disproved, unreliable allegations based largely on axe-grinders, serial perjurers, coerced testimony, sweetheart deals and threat -induced stories. Ignoring the 500-600 tests Lance Armstrong passed, ignoring all exculpatory evidence, and trying to justify the millions of dollars USADA has spent pursuing one, single athlete for years, USADA has continued its government funded witch hunt of only Mr. Armstrong, a retired cyclist, in violation of its own rules and due process, in spite of USADA’s lack of jurisdiction, in blatant violation of the statute of limitations, and without honoring UCI’s demand to produce the entire USADA “file” for an independent review and decision as mandated by national and international rules.