Lance Armstrong at the centre of the most sophisticated doping programme in sports history

Lance Armstrong was the kingpin at the center of the 'most sophisticated, professionalized and successful' doping program in sports history, it was alleged by investigators today.

Eleven of the former cycling legend's teammates on the U.S. Postal Service Cycling Team have turned on him -- offering evidence and testimony to back up allegations that Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs in competition, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said.

The USADA released the information as a preview of its lengthy report on Armstrong's doping charges, which is expected to be released later today.



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,' the agency said in a statement Wednesday morning.

The statement goes on to say the USADA has compiled 'direct documentary evidence including financial payments, emails, scientific data and laboratory test results that further prove the use, possession and distribution of performance enhancing drugs by Lance Armstrong and confirm the disappointing truth about the deceptive activities of the USPS Team, a team that received tens of millions of American taxpayer dollars in funding.'



Tour de France winner Floyd Landis, left, and gold medalist Tyler Hamilton testified against Armstrong. Both cyclists had already been stripped of their greatest wins over their own admissions of doping
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n August, the USADA handed Armstrong a lifetime ban from cycling and erased all seven of his Tour de France wins -- victories that captured the attention and imagination of Americans and turned him into a household name.

The ban came within hours of Armstrong announcing that he would stop fighting charges that he used performance enhancing drugs throughout his cycling career.

Despite this, Armstrong has aggressively denied doping, claiming Usada has pursued an 'unconstitutional witch hunt' against him.


USADA CEO Travis Tygart condemned Armstrong, but praised his 11 teammates who testified against him -- even though most admitted to doping, as well.

'I have personally talked with and heard these athletes’ stories and firmly believe that, collectively, these athletes, if forgiven and embraced, have a chance to leave a legacy far greater for the good of the sport than anything they ever did on a bike,' he wrote.

'Lance Armstrong was given the same opportunity to come forward and be part of the solution. He rejected it.'

The teammates who cooperated include: George Hincapie, a respected cyclist who completed the Tour de France 17 times and was a key training partner for Armstrong; Floyd Landis, a Tour winner; and Tyler Hamilton, who won an Olympic gold medal in Athens.

All three men have been stripped of their honors as a result of admitting they used illegal substances.



Also cooperating were: Frankie Andreu, Michael Barry, Tom Danielson. Levi Leipheimer, Stephen Swart, Christian Vande Velde, Jonathan Vaughters and David Zabriskie.

A total of 26 people contributed evidence to the 1,000 page report produced by the USADA.

The report is meant for the Union Cycliste International, cycling's governing organization, the World Anti-Doping Agency and the World Triathlon Corporation.

The UCI, which oversee the Tour de France, has not officially vacated Armstrong's wins, nor is it enforcing the USADA's lifetime ban.

The organization requested the report, called a 'reasoned decision,' so that it could come to its own conclusion about the charges against Armstrong.

The USADA said Armstrong was an integral part of the Postal Service team's culture of performance-enhancing drug use.

'The USPS Team doping conspiracy was professionally designed to groom and pressure athletes to use dangerous drugs, to evade detection, to ensure its secrecy and ultimately gain an unfair competitive advantage through superior doping practices,' the statement said.

'A program organized by individuals who thought they were above the rules and who still play a major and active role in sport today.'


source : dailymail