The Washington Post is reporting that the United States Anti-Doping Agency has brought formal charges against cycling legend Lance Armstrong. From the Post:
In the 15-page charging letter obtained by The Post, USADA made previously unpublicized allegations against Armstrong, alleging it collected blood samples from Armstrong in 2009 and 2010 that were “fully consistent with blood manipulation including EPO use and/or blood transfusions.” Armstrong has never tested positive...
USADA’s letter, dated June 12, alleges that Armstrong and five former cycling team associates — three doctors including Italian physician Michele Ferrari, one trainer and team manager Johan Bruyneel— engaged in a massive doping conspiracy from 1998 to 2011, and that “the witnesses to the conduct described in this letter include more than ten (10) cyclists . . .” Full article
Armstrong released a statement denying the allegations. In February, federal prosecutors closed an investigation into alleged doping by Armstrong without charging him.
This brings to mind Armstrong's appearance last month on the Gavin Newsom show on Current TV. That segment made headlines for Armstrong's comments about doping allegations that have haunted him for years. In February, federal prosecutors dropped an investigation of the seven-time Tour de France winner.
In the segment, Armstrong said he's "done" discussing the doping accusations. "I'm certainly sick and tired of dealing with all this," Armstrong said. "There are hundreds and hundreds and hundreds -- and I mean five or six hundred -- doping controls that are all negative. Blood, urine, hair, whatever they wanted to take. At some point somebody's going to have to answer that question... You can imagine, These things take a ton of time and attention and energy; they suck the life out of you."
Full clip from the Chronicle's Politics Blog: