Lance Armstrong on Thursday dismissed accusations of doping leveled against him by disgraced cyclist Floyd Landis, who implicated the seven-time Tour de France winner and others in confessing his own cheating.
“It’s our word against his word,” Armstrong told a clutch of reporters in Visalia, California, shortly before the start of the fifth stage of the Tour of California. “I like our word. We like our credibility.”
The Wall Street Journal reported that Landis acknowledged his own drug use and accused colleagues in e-mails he sent to cycling officials and sponsors.
He said Armstrong schooled him in doping techniques, and colluded with an official of the International Cycling Union (UCI) to have a positive test covered up.
Sports news site ESPN.com said Landis confirmed to them that he had sent the e-mails admitting the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
“I want to clear my conscience,” he said. “I don’t want to be part of the problem anymore.”
The Wall Street Journal also reported Landis was co-operating with the US Food and Drug Administration’s criminal investigations department and he had met with BALCO investigator and FDA special agent Jeff Novitzky.
Landis, who was stripped of his own 2006 Tour de France title after testing positive for elevated levels of testosterone, said he and other US cyclists conducted blood transfusions, and used steroids and the synthetic blood booster erythropoietin (EPO).
In e-mails addressed to officials from USA Cycling, the UCI and elsewhere, Landis alleged that long-time Armstrong team manager Johan Bruyneel introduced Landis to practices including steroid patch use and blood doping.
Bruyneel led the US Postal team, which later became Discovery Channel, to victory in eight of nine Tour de France races from 1999 — seven straight from 1999 to 2005 with Armstrong.
Landis joined US Postal in 2002, and teamed with Armstrong in three Tour de France campaigns before winning in 2006 riding for Phonak.
With Bruyneel — now manager of Armstrong’s RadioShack team — at his side, Armstrong challenged Landis’ credibility.
Crash
Armstrong abandoned the Tour of California after crashing early in the fifth stage on Thursday.
Team spokesman Philippe Maertens said Armstrong was evaluated by doctors in the team bus who gave him eight stitches under his left eye, and also had “a severe left elbow contusion.”
He was taken to hospital for precautionary X-rays, which were negative. Armstrong, defending champion and teammate Levi Leipheimer, and Saxo Bank’s Stuart O’Grady were among those involved in the crash, which came as the road narrowed departing the town of Visalia. A rider in the main group skidded on some gravel and fell, causing others to crash. Armstrong resumed riding after the crash, but eventually gave up as his eye swelled shut, Maertens said.
Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen yesterday exited at the BWF World Tour Finals in China, losing in the semi-finals to China’s world No. 1 Shi Yuqi. Shi, who was named the BWF Men’s Singles Player of the Year, had a 9-4 record against Chou going into the match. He extended that record to 9-5 with a 21-14, 21-18 victory. Chou advanced to the men’s singles semi-finals on Friday by upsetting top-seeded Anders Antonsen of Denmark in a must-win match at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium. The 16-21, 21-18, 21-15 victory saw Chou secure his second semi-finals appearance at the tournament, despite his relatively older
‘REMARKABLE’: Gaelic football is a traditional Irish sport that blends the skills of soccer and rugby, and hurling is an ancient sport played with a wooden stick and ‘sliotar’ The Taiwan Celts Gaelic Football Club marked a milestone achievement at the Asian Gaelic Games in Bangkok on Nov. 23 and 24, with two sides advancing to the knockout stages and competing at hurling for the first time. The event brought together 68 teams from 16 clubs across Asia, with more than 800 players in men’s and women’s tournaments. Gaelic football is a traditional Irish team sport that blends the skills of soccer, rugby union and basketball. Hurling is an ancient Irish sport played with a wooden stick, called a hurley, and a small ball, or sliotar. The Taiwan Celts’ women’s team reached
India’s chess star Gukesh Dommaraju returned to a hero’s welcome in his home city yesterday after becoming the youngest world champion aged only 18. Hundreds of fans crowded the arrivals area of Chennai International Airport, cheering alongside banks of television cameras as Gukesh made his way out of the airport after victory in taking the World Chess Championship title. “It means a lot to bring back the trophy to India,” Gukesh told reporters, with garlands of flowers draped around his neck, brandishing the glittering trophy in his hand. “I can see the support and what it means to India, I
LIVERPOOL WIN: The 50th Champions League goal by Mohamed Salah helped the leaders of the Premier League to keep their perfect record intact Real Madrid’s big stars on Tuesday turned on the style to revive the Spanish giant’s faltering UEFA Champions League title defense. Galacticos Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham all scored in a thrilling 3-2 win against Serie A leaders Atalanta BC. However, Madrid still had to ride their luck as Mateo Retegui fired over from in front of goal in stoppage-time when handed a golden chance to level the game. It was only Madrid’s third win in the competition’s revamped league phase and leaves the 15-time champions in the unseeded playoff positions in 18th place. “It’s a very important win. Not everyone wins
RSS