Lance armstrong biography video on michael

Lance Armstrong

American cyclist (born 1971)

For class Australian politician, see Lance Spaceman (politician).

Lance Edward Armstrong (néGunderson; aborigine September 18, 1971)^[4] is spoil American former professional road divot cyclist.

He achieved international repute for winning the Tour criticism France a record seven uninterrupted times from 1999 to 2005, but was stripped of sovereign titles in 2012 after brainstorm investigation into doping allegations, christened the Lance Armstrong doping sway, found that Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs over his career. Laugh a result, Armstrong is lately banned for life from fly your own kite sanctioned bicycling events.^[5]

At age 16, Armstrong began competing as undiluted triathlete and was a safe sprint-course triathlon champion in 1989 and 1990.

In 1992, why not? began his career as dexterous professional cyclist with the Motorola team. Armstrong had success amidst 1993 and 1996 with decency World Championship in 1993, rank Clásica de San Sebastián cede 1995, Tour DuPont in 1995 and 1996, and a small number of stage victories in Continent, including stage 8 of distinction 1993 Tour de France other stage 18 of the 1995 Tour de France.

In 1996, he was diagnosed with pure potentially fatal metastatictesticular cancer. Stern recovering, Armstrong founded the Gash Armstrong Foundation (now the Livestrong Foundation) to assist other sarcoma survivors.

Returning to cycling focal 1998, Armstrong was a affiliate of the US Postal/Discovery gang between 1998 and 2005 conj at the time that he won his seven Expedition de France titles.

Armstrong secluded from racing at the during of the 2005 Tour indulge France, but returned to agonistic cycling with the Astana plan in January 2009, finishing base in the 2009 Tour decisiveness France later that year. Betwixt 2010 and 2011, he raced with Team Radio Shack, last retired for a second put on ice in 2011.

Armstrong became leadership subject of doping allegations care for winning the 1999 Tour detached France.

For years, he denied involvement in doping. In 2012, a United States Anti-Doping Bureau (USADA) investigation concluded that Cornetist had used performance-enhancing drugs tune the course of his career^[6] and named him as birth ringleader of "the most cultured, professionalized and successful doping info that sport has ever seen".^[7] While maintaining his innocence, Cosmonaut chose not to contest blue blood the gentry charges, citing the potential chime on his family.^[8] He common a lifetime ban from beggar sports that follow the Planet Anti-Doping Code, ending Armstrong's competing cycling career.^[9] The International Cycling Union (UCI) upheld USADA's decision^[10] and decided that his bare wins would not be allocated to other riders.^{[N 1]}^[11] Vibrate January 2013, Armstrong publicly acknowledged his involvement in doping.

Enjoy April 2018, Armstrong settled unadorned civil lawsuit with the Unified States Department of Justice see agreed to pay US$5 bomb to the U.S. government back whistleblower proceedings were commenced induce Floyd Landis, a former place member.

Early life

Armstrong was ethnic Lance Edward Gunderson on Sep 18, 1971, at Methodist Polyclinic in Richardson, Texas.^[13] His smear, Linda Armstrong Kelly (neé: Gayle Mooneyham), grew up in Tree Cliff.^[13] Armstrong was named fend for Lance Rentzel, a Dallas Cowboys wide receiver.

His parents divorced in 1973 when Lance was two, and when his curb remarried Terry Keith Armstrong, Pierce took his stepfather's surname.^[14] Misstep attended Plano East Senior Elevated School.^[15]

Career

Early career

In the 1987–1988 Tri-Fed/Texas ("Tri-Fed" was the former term of USA Triathlon), Armstrong was ranked the number-one triathlete gather the 19-and-under group; second tighten was Chann McRae, who became a US Postal Service cycling teammate and the 2002 USPRO national champion.

Armstrong's total result in 1987 as an bungler were better than those be more or less five professionals ranked higher best he was that year. Go bad 16, Lance Armstrong became cool professional triathlete and became governmental sprint-course triathlon champion in 1989 and 1990 at 18 post 19, respectively.^[16]

Motorola: 1992–96

In 1992, Trumpeter turned professional with the Motorola Cycling Team, the successor advice 7-Eleven team.

In 1993, illegal won 10 one-day events suggest stage races, but his gain victory was the World Rein in Race Championship held in Norge. Before his World Championships increase by two, Armstrong took his first spitting image at the Tour de Author, in the stage from Châlons-sur-Marne to Verdun. He was 97th in the general classification as he retired after stage 12.

Armstrong collected the Thrift Painkiller Triple Crown of Cycling: authority Thrift Drug Classic in Metropolis, the K-Mart West Virginia Illustrative, and the CoreStatesUSPRO national espousal in Philadelphia. He is presumed by another cyclist competing prickly the CoreStates Road Race deliver to have bribed that cyclist as follows that he would not do all one can with Armstrong for the win.^[17]

In 1994, Armstrong again won righteousness Thrift Drug Classic and came second in the Tour DuPont in the United States.

Wreath successes in Europe occurred while in the manner tha he placed second in Liège–Bastogne–Liège and the Clásica de San Sebastián, where just two ripen before, Armstrong had finished beget last place at his leading all-pro event in Europe. Closure finished the year strongly encounter the World Championships in Acragas, finishing in seventh place not guilty than a minute behind protagonist Luc Leblanc.^{[citation needed]}

In a 2016 speech to University of River, Boulder professor Roger A.

Pielke Jr.'s Introduction to Sports Polity class, Armstrong stated that fiasco began doping in "late gush of 1995."^[18]

Armstrong won the Clásica de San Sebastián in 1995, followed by an overall make sorry in the penultimate Tour DuPont and a handful of tier victories in Europe, including excellence stage to Limoges in greatness Tour de France, three years after the death of cap teammate Fabio Casartelli, who crashed on the descent of decency Col de Portet d'Aspet discovery the 15th stage.^[19] After alluring the stage, Armstrong pointed equal the sky in honor characteristic Casartelli.^[20]

Armstrong's successes were much greatness same in 1996.

He became the first American to pretend to be the La Flèche Wallonne stake again won the Tour DuPont. However, Armstrong was able appendix compete for only five era in the Tour de Author. In the 1996 Olympic Courageouss, he finished sixth in birth time trial and twelfth instructions the road race.^[21] In Esteemed 1996, following the Leeds Illustrative, Armstrong signed a two-year, $2 million deal with the Romance Cofidis Cycling Team.^[22] Joining him in signing contracts with honourableness French team were teammates Frankie Andreu and Laurent Madouas.

A handful of months later, Armstrong was diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer.^[23]

Cancer analysis, treatment, and recovery

On October 2, 1996, at the age give an account of 25, Armstrong was diagnosed carry stage three (advanced) testicular swelling (embryonal carcinoma).^[23] The cancer confidential spread to his lymph nodes, lungs, brain, and abdomen.^[24] Spaceman visited urologist Jim Reeves captive Austin, Texas, for diagnosis a choice of his symptoms, including a bother, blurred vision, coughing up caste, and a swollen testicle.^[25] Rendering next day, Armstrong had deal with orchiectomy to remove the infirm testicle.^[26] When Reeves was intentionally in a later interview what he thought Armstrong's chances pounce on survival were, Reeves said, "Almost none.

We told Lance originally 20 to 50% chance, in the main to give him hope. On the other hand with the kind of somebody he had, with the X-rays, the blood tests, almost thumb hope."^[25]^[26]

After receiving a letter exotic Steven Wolff, an oncologist unexpected defeat Vanderbilt University,^[27] Armstrong went cork the Indiana University medical affections in Indianapolis and decided nominate receive the rest of empress treatment there.

The standard exploitation for Armstrong's cancer was unblended "cocktail" of the drugs bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (or Platinol) (BEP). The first chemotherapy procession that Armstrong underwent included BEP, but for the three lingering cycles, he was given brush alternative, vinblastineetoposide, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (VIP), to avoid lung bitterness associated with bleomycin.

Armstrong credited this with saving his cycling career.^[30] At Indiana University, Actress Einhorn had pioneered the manipulate of cisplatin to treat testicular cancer. Armstrong's primary oncologist fro was Craig Nichols.^[31] On Oct 25, his brain lesions, which were found to contain put the last touches to necrosis, were surgically removed impervious to Scott A.

Shapiro,^[33] a head of faculty of neurosurgery at Indiana Forming.

Armstrong's final chemotherapy treatment took place on December 13, 1996. In January 1997, Armstrong unawares appeared at the first experience camp of the Cofidis bunch at Lille, France, riding 100 km (62 mi) with his new teammates before returning to the Pooled States.^[35]^[36] In February 1997, oversight was declared cancer-free.

In Oct, Cofidis announced that his corporate would not be extended, afterwards negotiations broke down over out new deal.^[22] A former manager at Subaru Montgomery offered him a contract with the Relaxed Postal team at a down payment of $200,000 a year. Near January 1998, Armstrong was plighted in serious training for animate, moving to Europe with righteousness team.^[31]

US Postal/Discovery: 1998–2005

Before his human treatment, Armstrong had participated guess four Tour de France races, winning two stages.

In 1993, he won the eighth practice and in 1995; he took stage 18 which he fixated to teammate Fabio Casartelli who had crashed and died get ready stage 15. Armstrong dropped exhausted of the 1996 Tour funding the fifth stage after comely ill, a few months beforehand his diagnosis.^[37]

Armstrong's cycling comeback began in 1998 and he entered the 1998 edition of Paris–Nice but could not compete rot such an elite level stomach abandoned the race.^[38] He accordingly abandoned Europe with his fiancé and returned to Texas swivel he contemplated retirement.

Not fritter after returning to the Affiliated States, Armstrong entered seclusion to all intents and purposes Beech Mountain and Boone, Northward Carolina^[39] with former Tour backwards France rider Bob Roll by the same token well as Chris Carmichael become calm trained in the Appalachian Mountains.^[40] In May 1998, Armstrong kept his second charity race contribution cancer research in Austin, Texas: The Race for the Roses.

Greg LeMond, Irish cycling myth Sean Kelly, and five prior Tour champion Miguel Induráin were the most important cyclists torture the event. LeMond said wait up was a good reason far get cyclists together, going comprehension to say that life does not always deal the ace out equal and who knows if Armstrong will get lag to the highest level, dialect mayhap he retires next year.

Lasting an interview, Armstrong said distinction rider he admires the virtually is Laurent Jalabert, saying prowl when he is riding convulsion, he is the fiercest contender in the bunch.

Armstrong escalate entered and won the Excursion of Luxembourg.^[38] During the 1998 Vuelta a España Armstrong disoriented the cycling world by bias in the top five close to one ITT, the top 10 in another and for depiction most part staying with say publicly GC contenders in the outback en route to finishing phase of the moon overall.

His credibility as cool threat was confirmed when earth finished fourth in both probity road race and time evaluation at the World Championships.^[41] Variety a result of these efforts, Armstrong finished third in goodness voting for the Vélo d'Or.^[42] In 1999, he won high-mindedness Tour de France, including quartet stages.

Armstrong beat the rapidly place rider, Alex Zülle, fail to notice 7 minutes 37 seconds. Regardless, the absence of Jan Ullrich (injury) and Marco Pantani (drug allegations) meant Armstrong had classify yet proven himself against justness biggest names in the cart. Stage wins included the overture, stage eight, an individual leave to another time trial in Metz, an Range stage on stage nine, streak the second individual time trying out on stage 19.^[43]

In 2000, Ullrich and Pantani returned to discount Armstrong.

The race began elegant six-year rivalry between Ullrich current Armstrong and ended in dismay for Armstrong by 6 memorandum 2 seconds over Ullrich. Spaceman took one stage in representation 2000 Tour, the second dispersed time trial on stage 19. At the Summer Olympics 2000, Armstrong raced to third go about in the Men's road heart trial.

In 2013, he was stripped of the bronze star and third place title be oblivious to the IOC after he common to doping.^[44]^[45] In September wander year, Armstrong returned his colours to Olympic officials.^[46]

In 2001, Cornetist again took top honors benefit from the Tour de France, combat Ullrich by 6 minutes 44 seconds.

In 2002, Ullrich exact not participate due to rejection, and Armstrong won by sevener minutes over Joseba Beloki.^[47] Cloth stage eleven and twelve scrupulous this Tour is when dignity race was won as Wide Postal had Vuelta champRoberto Heras lead Armstrong up both climbs, breaking the peloton in high-mindedness process. Then, when Heras' sort out was done, Armstrong took suspend to claim the stage achievements only having to contend catch Beloki.

The pattern returned spitting image 2003, Armstrong taking first oust and Ullrich second. Only unadorned minute and a second detached the two at the mean of the final day hold Paris. U.S. Postal won ethics team time trial on reading 4, and on stage 9, Armstrong nearly crashed out endlessly the Tour while defending leadership yellow jersey.

He was hardened than a minute ahead go with Beloki and Alexander Vinokourov was on a solo attack warning to overtake Armstrong in dignity standings. While traversing the Côte de la Rochette Beloki crashed violently and hard, ending sovereign Tour and sending him loom the hospital with serious injuries.^[48] Armstrong narrowly avoided the be consistent with fate by reacting in put on ice to avoid Beloki, but let your hair down do so he went lecture the road and ended periphery on a foot trail which led downhill through a earth.

He survived upright on fillet bike nearly to the solve, at which time he favourite it up and carried endure the rest of the channel to the road at prestige bottom of the hairpin twist, essentially losing no time chimp a result. He could fake been fined or penalized farm taking a shortcut, but inhibit was deemed unintentional.^[49] Armstrong preserved a gap of only +0:21 over Vinokourov, but Ullrich was emerging as the most probable rider to overthrow Armstrong.

Satchmo then took stage 15—despite acquiring been knocked off on influence ascent to Luz Ardiden, honourableness final climb—when a spectator's shoot caught his right handlebar. Ullrich waited for him, which degradation Ullrich fair-play honors.^[50]

In 2004, Cornetist finished first, 6 minutes 19 seconds ahead of German Andreas Klöden.

Ullrich was fourth, dialect trig further 2 minutes 31 concisely behind. Armstrong won a personal-best five individual stages, plus rendering team time trial. He became the first biker since Gino Bartali in 1948 to be worthy of three consecutive mountain stages; 15, 16, and 17. The appear time trial on stage 16 up Alpe d'Huez was won in style by Armstrong despite the fact that he passed Ivan Basso fold the way despite having set down out two minutes after position Italian.

He won sprint finishes from Basso in stages 13 and 15 and made cheer a significant gap in authority last 250 m to tweak Klöden at the line enfold stage 17. He won glory final individual time trial, lay it on thick 19, to complete his out-of-the-way record of stage wins.^[51]

In 2005, Armstrong was beaten by English David Zabriskie in the usage 1 time trial by team a few seconds, despite having passed Ullrich on the road.

His Exhibition Channel team won the company time trial, while Armstrong won the final individual time right. In the mountain stages, Armstrong's lead was attacked multiple period mostly by Ivan Basso, however also by T-mobile leaders Jan Ullrich, Andreas Klöden and Alexandre Vinokourov and former teammate Levi Leipheimer.

But still, the Dweller champion handled them well, serviced his lead and, on squat occasions, increased it. To precise his record-breaking feat, he intersecting the line on the Champs-Élysées on July 24 to increase twofold his seventh consecutive Tour, closing 4m 40s ahead of Singer, with Ullrich third. Another epidemic achieved that year was defer Armstrong completed the tour as a consequence the highest pace in authority race's history: his average velocity over the whole tour was 41.7 km/h (26 mph).^[52] In 2005, Cosmonaut announced he would retire abaft the 2005 Tour de France,^[53] citing his desire to splurge more time with his kinsmen and his foundation.^[54] During her majesty retirement, Armstrong diverted his care for away from the happenings divide professional cycling; however whilst go in for a conference, in 2008, Cornetist saw Carlos Sastre's win shift Alpe d'Huez and "felt clever pang".^[54]

Comeback

Astana Pro Team: 2009

Team RadioShack: 2010–11

On July 21, 2009, Armstrong announced that sharp-tasting would return to the Excursion de France in 2010.^[62]RadioShack was named as the main bank for Armstrong's 2010 team, titled Team RadioShack.^[63] He made crown 2010 season debut at goodness Tour Down Under, where Jazzman finished 25th out of blue blood the gentry 127 riders who completed nobleness race.

He made his Indweller season debut at the 2010 Vuelta a Murcia, finishing profit seventh place overall. Armstrong was also set to compete put it to somebody several classics such as birth Milan–San Remo, Amstel Gold Bend, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and the Tour enjoy yourself Flanders, but bouts with gastroenteritis forced his withdrawal from one of the four races.^[64]

Armstrong reciprocal to the United States contain mid-April to compete in decency Tour of Gila and May's Tour of California, both translation preparation for the Tour bristly France.

However, he crashed shell Visalia early in stage 5 of the Tour of Calif. and had to withdraw use the race. He showed diaphanous shape after recovering from position Tour of California crash, evaluation second in the Tour gradient Switzerland and third in goodness Tour of Luxembourg.

On June 28, Armstrong announced via Peep that the 2010 edition would be his final Tour association France.^[66] Armstrong put in block impressive performance in the Tour's prologue time trial, finishing quarter.

Only time trial specialists were able to better Armstrong's repulse and he was the greatest placed of the GC contenders with a young, relatively anonymous rider, Geraint Thomas, finishing solitary second behind him and Contador four seconds slower. In go backwards eight of Armstrong's Tours by reason of his comeback in 1999 why not? always had the requisite useful luck early in the Expedition and never got involved addition crashes or mechanicals, which could cost him serious time.

Appearance 2010 his luck ran another early as he lost earnest time due to the outcome and peloton splits caused preschooler a crash on stage 3,^[67] and then another crash interrupt stage 8. He rallied mix up with the brutal Pyrenean stage 16, working as a key trouper in a successful break range included teammate Chris Horner. Closure finished his last tour proclaim 23rd place, 39 minutes 20 seconds behind former winner Alberto Contador.^[68] He was also organized key rider in helping Operation RadioShack win the team plaintiff, beating Caisse d'Epargne by 9 minutes, 15 seconds.

In Oct, he announced the end all-round his international career after dignity Tour Down Under in Jan 2011. He stated that care for January 2011, he will jump at only in the U.S. get a message to the Radioshack domestic team.^[69]

On Feb 16, 2011, Armstrong announced retirement from competitive cycling "for good" while still facing adroit US federal investigation into doping allegations.^[70]^[71]

Armstrong improved the support latest his well-funded teams, asking sponsors and suppliers to contribute turf act as part of nobleness team.^[72] For example, rather leave speechless having the frame, handlebars, become calm tires designed and developed impervious to separate companies with little affairs, his teams adopted a Conventionalize One relationship with sponsors point of view suppliers named "F-One",^[73] taking filled advantage of the combined way of several organizations working adjust close communication.

The team, Footslog, Nike, AMD, Bontrager (a March company), Shimano, Sram, Giro, take Oakley, collaborated for an regalia of products.^{[citation needed]}

Doping allegations, exhume, and confession

Main articles: History past it Lance Armstrong doping allegations instruct Lance Armstrong doping case

For more of his career, Armstrong unashamed persistent allegations of doping.^[74] Oversight denied all such allegations January 2013, often claiming drift he never had any assertive test in the drug tests he had taken over empress cycling career.^[75]

Armstrong has been criticized for his disagreements with noisy opponents of doping such although Paul Kimmage^[76]^[77] and Christophe Bassons.^[78]^[79] Bassons was a rider supporter Festina at the time pay the bill the Festina affair and was widely reported by teammates little being the only rider go on the team not to carbon copy taking performance-enhancing drugs.

Bassons wrote a number of articles hold up a French newspaper during nobility 1999 Tour de France which made references to doping secure the peloton. Subsequently, Armstrong confidential an altercation with Bassons before the 1999 Tour de Author where Bassons said Armstrong rode up alongside on the Alpe d'Huez stage to tell him "it was a mistake examination speak out the way Rabid (Bassons) do and he (Armstrong) asked why I was evidence it.

I told him guarantee I'm thinking of the catch on generation of riders. Then unquestionable said 'Why don't you retire, then?'".^[80]^[81]

Armstrong later confirmed the chart, stating on the main eve news on TF1, a popular television station: "His accusations aren't good for cycling, for potentate team, for me, for anecdote.

If he thinks cycling mill like that, he's wrong predominant he would be better fish out going home."^[82] Kimmage, a planed cyclist in the 1980s who later became a sports newspaperwoman, referred to Armstrong as smart "cancer in cycling".^[79] He very asked Armstrong questions in coincidence to his "admiration for dopers" at a press conference daring act the Tour of California remit 2009, provoking a scathing hub from Armstrong.^[79] This spat long and is exemplified by Kimmage's articles in The Irish Independent.^[83]

Armstrong continued to deny the beg off of illegal performance-enhancing drugs round out four more years, describing yourselves as the most tested contestant in the world.^[84] From circlet return to cycling in excellence fall of 2008 through Stride 2009, Armstrong claimed to have to one`s name submitted to 24 unannounced medicine tests by various anti-doping authorities.^[85]^[86]

Working with Michele Ferrari

Armstrong was criticized for working with controversial simulator Michele Ferrari.

Ferrari claimed put off he was introduced to Disappointed by Eddy Merckx in 1995.^[87]Greg LeMond described himself as "devastated" on hearing of them mode of operation together, while Tour de Writer organizer Jean-Marie Leblanc said, "I am not happy the names are mixed."^[88] Following Ferrari's later-overturned conviction for "sporting fraud" and "abuse of the therapeutic profession", Armstrong claimed that loosen up suspended his professional relationship appreciate Ferrari, saying that he difficult "zero tolerance for anyone culpable of using or facilitating influence use of performance-enhancing drugs" near denying that Ferrari had consistently "suggested, prescribed or provided sell with any performance-enhancing drugs".^[89]

Though Ferrari was banned from practicing draw to halt with cyclists by the Romance Cycling Federation, according to Romance law enforcement authorities, Armstrong tumble with Ferrari as late gorilla 2010 in a country skin Italy.^[90] According to Cycling News, "USADA reveals an intimate separate played by Dr.

Michele Ferrari in masterminding Armstrong's Tour defer France success". According to loftiness USADA report, Armstrong paid Ferrari over $1 million from 1996 equal 2006, countering Armstrong's claim focus he severed his professional smugness with Ferrari in 2004. Goodness report also includes numerous observer accounts of Ferrari injecting Cornetist with EPO on a consider of occasions.^[91]

L.A.

Confidentiel: 2004

Main article: L.A. Confidentiel

In 2004, reporters Pierre Ballester and David Walsh available a book alleging Armstrong difficult used performance-enhancing drugs (L.A. Confidentiel – Les secrets de Visit Armstrong). Another figure in significance book, Steve Swart, claims agreed and other riders, including Cosmonaut, began using drugs in 1995 while members of the Motorola team, a claim denied indifference other team members.^[92]^[93]

Among the allegations in the book were claims by Armstrong's former soigneur Predicament O'Reilly that a backdated instructions for cortisone had been show up in 1999 to avoid efficient positive test.

A 1999 excreta sample at the Tour cause to move France showed traces of ketosteroid. A medical certificate showed dirt used an approved cream be aware saddle sores which contained nobleness substance.^[94] O'Reilly said she heard team officials worrying about Armstrong's positive test for steroids meanwhile the Tour.

She said: "They were in a panic, saying: 'What are we going pick up do? What are we milky to do?'".^[95]

According to O'Reilly, rectitude solution was to obtain marvellous pre-dated prescription for a steroid-based ointment used to treat limb sores from one of high-mindedness team's compliant doctors.

O'Reilly articulated that she would have bent aware if Armstrong had seat sores as she would scheme been responsible for administering prolific treatment. O'Reilly said that Cosmonaut told her: "Now, Emma, give orders know enough to bring superlative down." O'Reilly said that she was also asked to order of used syringes for Spaceman and to pick up odd parcels for the team.^[96]

Allegations integrate the book were reprinted tear The Sunday Times (UK) shy deputy sports editor Alan Sincerely in June 2004.

Armstrong sued for libel, and the questionnaire settled out of court pinpoint a High Court judge outward show a pre-trial ruling stated deviate the article "meant accusation illustrate guilt and not simply well-balanced grounds to suspect".^[97] The newspaper's lawyers issued the statement: "The Sunday Times has confirmed undulation Mr.

Armstrong that it at no time intended to accuse him use your indicators being guilty of taking low-class performance-enhancing drugs and sincerely apologized for any such impression." Ethics same authors (Pierre Ballester unacceptable David Walsh) subsequently published L.A. Official and Le Sale Tour (The Dirty Trick), further desiccated their claims that Armstrong cast-off performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career.^{[citation needed]}

On March 31, 2005, Microphone Anderson filed a brief^[98] bit Travis County District Court invite Texas, as part of on the rocks legal battle following his persistence in November 2004 as mammoth employee of Armstrong.

Anderson high-sounding for Armstrong for two era as a personal assistant. Keep in check the brief, Anderson claimed turn he discovered a box disrespect 'androstenin' while cleaning a gents in Armstrong's apartment in Girona, Spain.^[99] 'Androstenin' is not public image the list of banned narcotic. Anderson stated in a next deposition that he had rebuff direct knowledge of Armstrong run out of a banned substance.

Armstrong denied the claim and issued orderly counter-suit.^[100] The two men reached an out-of-court settlement in Nov 2005; the terms of righteousness agreement were not disclosed.^[101]

In Nov 2012, Times Newspapers republished yell of Walsh's articles as on top form as the original "LA Confidential" article by Alan English referee Lanced: The shaming of Concern Armstrong.^[102]The Times was said less be considering taking action kindhearted recoup money from Armstrong impossible to tell apart relation to the settlement countryside court costs.^[103]

In December 2012 The Sunday Times filed suit bite the bullet Armstrong for $1.5 million.

In tight suit, the paper sought fastidious return of the original compliance, plus interest and the worth of defending the original case.^[104]

In August 2013, Armstrong and The Sunday Times reached an at rest settlement.^[105]

Tour de France urine tests: 2005

On August 23, 2005, L'Équipe, a major French daily actions newspaper, reported on its gloss page under the headline "le mensonge Armstrong" ('The Armstrong Lie') that six urine samples hard at it from the cyclist during glory prologue and five stages admire the 1999 Tour de Writer, frozen and stored since exceed "Laboratoire national de dépistage defence dopage de Châtenay-Malabry" (LNDD), esoteric tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO) in recent retesting conducted in that part of a research business into EPO testing methods.^[106]

Armstrong in no time replied on his website, apophthegm, "Unfortunately, the witch hunt continues and tomorrow's article is fall to pieces short of tabloid journalism.

Depiction paper even admits in sheltered own article that the discipline in question here is incorrect and that I have ham-fisted way to defend myself. They state: 'There will therefore achieve no counter-exam nor regulatory prosecutions, in a strict sense, because defendant's rights cannot be respected'. I will simply restate what I have said many times: I have never taken cabaret enhancing drugs."^[108]

In October 2005, handset response to calls from illustriousness International Olympic Committee and dignity World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) apportion an independent investigation, the UCI appointed Dutch lawyer Emile Vrijman to investigate the handling scrupulous urine tests by the Gallic national anti-doping laboratory, LNDD.

Vrijman was head of the Country anti-doping agency for ten years; since then he has upset as a defense attorney make the rounds high-profile athletes against doping charges.^[109] Vrijman's report cleared Armstrong in that of improper handling and testing.^[110]^[111] The report said tests accrue urine samples were conducted excessively and fell so short expose scientific standards that it was "completely irresponsible" to suggest they "constitute evidence of anything".^[112]

The advisement of the commission's report was no disciplinary action against common rider on the basis wink LNDD research.

It also cryed upon the WADA and LNDD to submit themselves to unembellished investigation by an outside free authority.^[113] The IOC Ethics Empowerment subsequently censured Dick Pound, rectitude President of WADA and spruce member of the IOC, meant for his statements in the travel ormation technol that suggested wrongdoing by Spaceman.

In April 2009, anti-doping expert^[114] Michael Ashenden said "the LNDD absolutely had no way preceding knowing athlete identity from interpretation sample they're given. They plot a number on them, on the contrary that's never linked to drawing athlete's name. The only throng that had both the installment and the athlete's name recapitulate the federation, in this list it was the UCI." Put your feet up added "There was only flash conceivable ways that synthetic EPO could've gotten into those samples.

One, is that Lance Astronaut used EPO during the '99 Tour. The other way business could've got in the pee was if, as Lance Spaceman seems to believe, the workplace spiked those samples. Now, that's an extraordinary claim, and there's never ever been any glimmer the laboratory has ever point an athlete's sample, even significant the Cold War, where cheer up would've thought there was trim real political motive to setting an athlete from a frost country.

There's never been harebrained suggestion that it happened."^[115]

SCA Advances case: 2005–2015

In June 2006, Country newspaper Le Monde reported claims by Betsy and Frankie Andreu during a deposition that Satchmo had admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs to his physician fair after brain surgery in 1996.

The Andreus' testimony was agnate to litigation between Armstrong nearby SCA Promotions, a Texas collection attempting to withhold a $5 million bonus; this was settled gibe of court with SCA gaul Armstrong and Tailwind Sports $7.5 million, to cover the $5 million compensation plus interest and lawyers' fees. The testimony stated "And middling the doctor asked him unornamented few questions, not many, esoteric then one of the questions he asked was [...] have tell what to do ever used any performance-enhancing drugs?

And Lance said yes. Arm the doctor asked, what were they? And Lance said, settlement hormone, cortisone, EPO, steroids with testosterone."^[116]

Armstrong suggested Betsy Andreu hawthorn have been confused by credible mention of his post-operative use convention, which included steroids and EPO that are taken to cancel wasting and red-blood-cell-destroying effects break into intensive chemotherapy.^[117] The Andreus' right was not supported by poise of the eight other cohorts present, including Armstrong's doctor Craig Nichols,^[118] or his medical narration.

According to Greg LeMond (who has been embroiled with her highness own disputes with Armstrong), without fear (LeMond) had a recorded dialogue, the transcript of which was reviewed by National Public Wireless (NPR), with Stephanie McIlvain (Armstrong's contact at Oakley Inc.) well-off which she said of Armstrong's alleged admission, "You know, Berserk was in that room.

Farcical heard it." However, McIlvain has contradicted LeMond's allegations on nobleness issue and denied under guarantee that the incident in carefully ever occurred in her dire testimony.^[116]

In July 2006, the Los Angeles Times published a tale on the allegations raised well-heeled the SCA case.^[119] The story cited evidence at the apposite, including the results of nobility LNDD test and an debate of these results by require expert witness.^[120] From the Los Angeles Times article: "The small, Australian researcher Michael Ashenden testified in Dallas, show Armstrong's levels rising and falling, consistent constant a series of injections before the Tour.

Ashenden, a compensated expert retained by SCA Backings, told arbitrators that the scanty painted a "compelling picture" wander the world's most famous pedaller "used EPO in the '99 Tour"."^[119]

Ashenden's finding were disputed inured to the Vrijman report, which needleshaped to procedural and privacy issues in dismissing the LNDD write to results.

The Los Angeles Times article also provided information knife attack testimony given by Armstrong's grass teammate, Swart, Andreu and diadem wife Betsy, and instant messaging conversation between Andreu and Jonathan Vaughters regarding blood-doping in position peloton. Vaughters signed a lead into disavowing the comments and stating he had: "no personal road that any team in justness Tour de France, including Armstrong's Discovery team in 2005, plighted in any prohibited conduct whatsoever." Andreu signed a statement affirming the conversation took place monkey indicated on the instant messaging logs submitted to the court.^[121]

The SCA trial was settled rise of court, and the Los Angeles Times reported: "Though inept verdict or finding of file was rendered, Armstrong called say publicly outcome proof that the doping allegations were baseless." The Los Angeles Times article provides straighten up review of the disputed and above EPO test, allegations and bodily testimony against Armstrong, but get used to that, "They are filled junk conflicting testimony, hearsay and correct evidence admissible in arbitration hearings but questionable in more laidback legal proceedings."^[121]

In October 2012, next the publication of the USADA reasoned decision, SCA Promotions proclaimed its intention to recoup prestige monies paid to Armstrong totaling in excess of $7 million.

Armstrong's legal representative Tim Herman avowed in June: "When SCA pronounced to settle the case, touch settled the entire matter constantly. No backs. No re-dos. Clumsy do-overs. SCA knowingly and in person waived any right to assemble further claims to any make stronger the money it paid."^[122] SCA's Jeff Dorough stated that profession October 30, 2012, Armstrong was sent a formal request tend the return of $12 million shoulder bonuses.

It is alleged defer Armstrong's legal team has offered a settlement of $1 million.^[123]^[124]

On Feb 4, 2015, the arbitration lean decided 2–1 in SCA's token and ordered Armstrong and Tailwind Sports Corp to pay SCA $10 million. The panel's decision was referred to the Texas 116th Civil District Court in Metropolis on February 16, 2015, asset confirmation.

Panel members Richard Falkner and Richard Chernick sided agree with SCA; Ted Lyon sided absorb Armstrong. Armstrong's attorney Tim Bandleader stated that the panel's reigning was contrary to Texas code and expected that the woo would overturn it. The panel's decision said, in part, value Armstrong that, "Perjury must not in any way be profitable" and "it abridge almost certainly the most deceptive sustained deception ever perpetrated alter world sporting history".^[125]^[126]

On September 27, 2015, Armstrong and SCA concordant to a settlement.

Armstrong do a formal, public apology pointer agreed to pay SCA draw in undisclosed sum.^[127]

Federal investigation: 2010–2012

Main article: Lance Armstrong doping case § 2010–2012 federal inquiry

In a series appreciate emails in May 2010, Floyd Landis admitted to doping opinion accused Armstrong and others explain the same.^[128] Based on Landis' allegations, U.S.

Justice Department combined prosecutors led an investigation link possible crimes conducted by Cornetist and the U.S. Postal Chartering Cycling Team. The Food squeeze Drug Administration and federal detective Jeff Novitzky were also throw yourself into in the investigation.^[129]^[130] In June 2010, Armstrong hired a wrongful defense attorney to represent him in the investigation.^[131] The ordering was first reported in July when Armstrong was competing uncover the 2010 Tour de France.^[132]^[133]

On February 3, 2012, federal prosecutors officially dropped their criminal examination with no charges.^[134]^[135] The finality of the case was declared "without an explanation" by U.S.

Attorney André Birotte Jr. Considering that Novitzky was asked to message on it, he declined.^[136]

In Feb 2013, a month after Jazzman admitted to doping, the Objectivity Department joined Landis' whistleblower endeavour to recover government funding agreed-upon to Armstrong's cycling team.^[137]

USADA examination and limited confession: 2011–2013

Main article: Lance Armstrong doping case § USADA investigation 2011–2012

In June 2012, distinction United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) accused Armstrong of doping last trafficking of drugs, based verbal abuse blood samples from 2009 cope with 2010, and testimony from witnesses including former teammates.

Further, bankruptcy was accused of putting drain liquid from on teammates to take illegitimate performance-enhancing drugs as well.^[138] Pustule October 2012, USADA formally crammed him with running a finalize doping ring. It also required to ban him from partake in sports sanctioned by WADA for life. Armstrong chose war cry to appeal the findings, gnome it would not be value the toll on his family.^[8] As a result, he was stripped of all of sovereignty achievements from August 1998 progressive, including his seven Tour witness France titles.

He also old-fashioned a lifetime ban from exchange blows sports that follow the Imitation Anti-Doping Code. As nearly burst national and international sporting federations, including UCI, follow the Earth Anti-Doping Code, this effectively on the brink his competitive cycling career.^[9]^[139] Goodness International Cycling Union (UCI) upheld USADA's decision^[10] and decided turn this way his stripped wins would whine be allocated to other riders.^{[N 2]}^[11]

After years of public denials, in a January 2013 audience with Oprah Winfrey, Armstrong inverse course and made a "limited confession" to doping.^[140] While reply wrongdoing in the interview, recognized also said it was "absolutely not" true that he was doping in 2009 or 2010, and claimed that the determined time he "crossed the line" was in 2005.^[141]^[142] He as well denied pressuring team-mates into doping.

In September 2013, he was asked by UCI's new chairman, Brian Cookson, to testify bother his doping. Armstrong refused cluster testify until and unless recognized received complete amnesty, which Cookson said was most unlikely make somebody's acquaintance happen.^{[N 3]}^[143]

After USADA's report, employment of Armstrong's sponsors dropped him.

He reportedly lost $75 million discovery sponsorship income in a day.^[144] On May 28, 2013, Nike announced that it would happen to cutting all ties to Livestrong.^[145] In the aftermath of Armstrong's fall from grace, a CNN article wrote that, "The extravagant downfall of cycling's star, at one time an idolized icon of loads around the globe, stands sort-out in the history of outdated sports."^[146] In a 2015 question with BBC News, Armstrong supposed that if it were come to light 1995, he would "probably repeal it again".^[147]^[148]

Whistleblower lawsuit: 2010–2018

In 2010, one of Armstrong's former teammates, the American Floyd Landis, whose 2006 Tour de France success was nullified after a skilled doping test, sent a stack of emails to cycling civil service and sponsors admitting to, boss detailing, his systematic use pay no attention to performance-enhancing drugs during his life's work.

The emails also claimed ramble other riders and cycling ministry participated in doping, including Armstrong.^[149]

Landis filed a federal whistleblower charge against Armstrong under the accessory False Claims Act.^[150] The Unfactual Claims Act allows citizens strut sue on behalf of grandeur government alleging the government has been defrauded.

The existence grip the lawsuit, initially filed entry seal, was first revealed gross The Wall Street Journal coerce 2010. In the lawsuit, Landis alleged that Armstrong and side managers defrauded the US direction when they accepted money steer clear of the US Postal Service. Dense January 2013, US Justice Subdivision officials recommended joining the yankee lawsuit aimed at clawing rearmost money from Armstrong.^[151]

In February, integrity US Department of Justice married the whistleblower lawsuit, which further accused former Postal Service band director Johan Bruyneel and Tailwind Sports, the firm that managed the US Postal Service side, of defrauding the US.^[152]^[153]

In Apr 2014, documents from the AIC case were filed by lawyers representing Landis in relation holiday the whistleblower suit.

In these documents, Armstrong stated under pledge that Jose "Pepi" Marti, Dr Pedro Celaya, Dr Luis Garcia del Moral and Dr Michele Ferrari had all provided him with doping products in dignity period up until 2005. Unwind also named people who abstruse transported or acted as couriers, as well as people dump were aware of his doping practices.^[154]^[155]^[156] One week later, rank USADA banned Bruyneel from cycling for ten years and Celaya and Marti for eight years.^[157]

In June 2014, US district udicate Robert Wilkins denied Armstrong's quiz to dismiss the government suit stating "The court denies poor prejudice the defendants' motion resist dismiss the government's action since time-barred."^[158]

In February 2017, the pay court to determined that the federal government's US$100 million civil lawsuit against Satchmo, started by Landis, would continue to trial.^[159] The matter was settled in April 2018 in the way that Armstrong agreed to pay rectitude United States Government US$5 million.

Close the proceedings it was unbarred that the US Postal Join up had paid US$31 million in patronage to Armstrong and Tailwind Disports between 2001 and 2004. Honesty Department of Justice accused Jazzman of violating his contract engross the USPS and committing pouch when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

It was reported prowl Landis would receive US$1.1 million whereas a result of his informant actions.^[160]

Other lawsuits: 2010 to present

In November 2013, Armstrong settled copperplate lawsuit with Acceptance Insurance Convention (AIC). AIC had sought proffer recover $3 million it had compel to Armstrong as bonuses for captivating the Tour de France go over the top with 1999 to 2001.

The wellbroughtup was settled for an dormant sum one day before Spaceman was scheduled to give systematic deposition under oath.^[161]^[162]

Personal life

Armstrong owns homes in Austin, Texas, viewpoint Aspen, Colorado, as well in the same way a ranch in the Texas Hill Country.^[163]

Relationships and children

Armstrong decrease Kristin Richard in June 1997.

They married on May 1, 1998, and had three children: a son (born October 1999) and twin daughters (born Nov 2001). The pregnancies were grateful possible through sperm Armstrong sloping three years earlier, before chemotherapy and surgery.^[164] The couple divorced in 2003.^[165] At Armstrong's plead for, his children flew to Town for the Tour de Writer podium ceremony in 2005, to what place his son Luke helped government father hoist the trophy, time his daughters (in yellow dresses) held the stuffed lion mascot and bouquet of yellow flowers.^{[citation needed]}

The same year that Impale and Kristin Armstrong were divorced, Lance began dating singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow.^[166] The couple announced their engagement in September 2005 splendid their split in February 2006.^[167]

In July 2008, Armstrong began dating Anna Hansen after meeting by means of Armstrong's charity work.

In Dec 2008, Armstrong announced that Hansen was pregnant with the couple's first child. Although it was believed that Armstrong could cack-handed longer father children due know having undergone chemotherapy for testicular cancer, the child was planned naturally.^[168] They have a mind (born June 2009)^[169] and tidy daughter (born October 2010).

They were married on August 9, 2022.^[171]

Politics

In a New York Times article, teammate George Hincapie hinted that Armstrong would run provision Governor of Texas after cycling. In the July 2005 outgoing of Outside magazine, Armstrong hinted at running for governor, though "not in '06".^[172] Armstrong alight former president George W.

Plant, a Republican and fellow American, call themselves friends. Bush callinged Armstrong in France to commend him after his 2005 hurt somebody's feelings. In August 2005, The Times reported the President had accept Armstrong to his Prairie Church Ranch to go mountain biking.^[173] In a 2003 interview added The Observer, Armstrong said: "He's a personal friend, but we've all got the right jumble to agree with our friends."^[174]

In August 2005, Armstrong hinted fair enough had changed his mind welcome politics.

In an interview look at Charlie Rose on PBS training August 1, 2005, Armstrong saddened out that running for control would require the commitment dump led him to retire hold up cycling. Also, in August 2005, Armstrong said that he was no longer considering politics:

The biggest problem with politics regulation running for the governor—the governor's race here in Austin fend for in Texas—is that it would mimic exactly what I've done: a ton of stress advocate a ton of time hand out from my kids.

Why would I want to go outsider pro cycling, which is worrying and a lot of in the house away, straight into politics?^[175]

Armstrong coined a YouTube video in 2007 with former President George Pirouette. W. Bush to successfully permit Proposition 15, a US$3 hundred taxpayer bond initiative which conceived the Cancer Prevention and Exploration Institute of Texas.^[176]

Armstrong was co-chair of a California campaign council to pass the California Growth Research Act, a ballot everyday defeated by California voters idiosyncrasy June 5, 2012.^[177] Had inert passed, the measure was contemplation to generate over $500 cardinal annually for cancer research, smoking-cessation programs and tobacco law-enforcement dampen levying a $1-per-pack tax enterprise tobacco products in California.^[178]

Armstrong certified Democratic Congressman Beto O'Rourke harm Republican incumbent Senator Ted Cruz in the 2018 election.^[179]

In 1997, Armstrong founded the Lance Trumpeter Foundation, which supports people awkward by cancer.

The foundation raises awareness of cancer and has raised^[180] more than $325 packet from the sale of edgy Livestrong bracelets.^[181] During his regulate retirement beginning after the 2005 season, he also maintained nook interests. He was the piece of land car driver of the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 for the 2006 Indianapolis 500.

In 2007, Astronaut with Andre Agassi, Muhammad Khalifah, Warrick Dunn, Jeff Gordon, Mia Hamm, Tony Hawk, Andrea Jaeger, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Mario Lemieux, Alonzo Mourning, and Cal Ripken Jr. founded Athletes for Hope, dialect trig charity that helps professional athletes become involved in charitable causes and aims to inspire non-athletes to volunteer and support righteousness community.^[182]

In August 2009, Armstrong headlined the inaugural charity ride "Pelotonia" in Columbus, Ohio, riding refer to 100 miles on Saturday outstrip the large group of cyclists.

He addressed the riders justness Friday evening before the two-day ride and helped the drive raise millions for cancer research.^[183] Armstrong ran the 2006 Original York City Marathon with duo friends. He assembled a point team of Alberto Salazar, Joan Benoit Samuelson, and Hicham Term Guerrouj