LONDON — In the wake of fresh doping allegations against Lance Armstrong, cycling’s world governing body and one of his former teammates have come to the defense of the seven-time Tour de France champion.
Former Boulder cyclist Tyler Hamilton, an ex-teammate of Armstrong’s, alleges the American star was involved in a systematic doping program with the U.S. Postal Service team to win the 1999, 2000 and 2001 Tours. But Viatcheslav Ekimov, a former teammate of Armstrong’s who stands to receive his third Olympic gold medal in the wake of Hamilton’s doping admission, said he never saw Armstrong do any of the things Hamilton described.
“First of all, it’s untrue. And behind his story is some money or some stimulation,” Ekimov said Monday. “Because why did this guy just crack now? Why didn’t he do it in 2005? . . . I call these guys liars. First they lie about the innocence, now they lie about something else. I think it’s just money.”
Meanwhile, the International Cycling Union (UCI) denied claims it helped cover up a positive sample submitted by Armstrong at the Tour de Suisse in 2001. The UCI was responding to accusations made by Hamilton on “60 Minutes” that it helped Armstrong to make the incident “go away.”
The “60 Minutes” report also said former Armstrong teammate George Hincapie told the grand jury reviewing the case that he and Armstrong shared drugs with each other.
Armstrong’s seven Tour de France titles could be jeopardized by the doping allegations even if he avoids a federal indictment or prosecution.
“There is absolute historical precedent for USADA or (World Anti-Doping Agency) to come in and adjudicate,” said Steven Ungerleider, an anti-doping expert with close ties to both agencies. “We have seen precedent where athletes have been stripped of their medals and earnings retroactively.”
