A report by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) accusing Lance Armstrong of using and distributing performance-enhancing drugs as part of a sophisticated doping programme is a “one-sided hatchet job,” the cyclist’s lawyer said yesterday.
The agency described its report as linking Armstrong to the use of performance-enhancing drugs through financial payments, emails, scientific data, laboratory test results, and testimony from 11 former team-mates.
“We have seen the press release from USADA touting the upcoming release of its ‘reasoned decision’,” Armstrong lawyer Sean Breen said by email.
“(The) 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,” Breen added.
Armstrong has denied cheating. He never failed a doping test.
Armstrong was banned for life by USADA in August after announcing he would not fight the agency’s doping charges against him.
Breen said the agency was “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.”
He added: “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.”
Meanwhile, US soccer team Sporting Kansas City said they plan to retain their Livestrong stadium name despite its link to Armstrong, chief executive Robb Heineman said.
Under an unusual stadium naming deal signed in 2011, the club agreed to donate $7.5 million over six years to the Livestrong Foundation cancer charity set up by the US rider after his successful treatment for the disease.
Heineman said the charity did good work for cancer sufferers despite all the adverse publicity surrounding Armstrong.
“It’s really about helping those afflicted with cancer,” explained Heineman.
“We’ve got an agreement for another four years. We don’t stick our head in the sand but it doesn’t change how we feel about the Foundation and the work they do.”