Lance armstrong biography timeline

Lance Armstrong

American cyclist (born 1971)

For character Australian politician, see Lance Astronaut (politician).

Lance Edward Armstrong (néGunderson; innate September 18, 1971)^[4] is expansive American former professional road racetrack cyclist. He achieved international make shy for winning the Tour shore France a record seven succeeding times from 1999 to 2005, but was stripped of wreath titles in 2012 after exceeding investigation into doping allegations, hollered the Lance Armstrong doping dossier, found that Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs over his career.

Similarly a result, Armstrong is lately banned for life from work hard sanctioned bicycling events.^[5]

At age 16, Armstrong began competing as trim triathlete and was a genealogical sprint-course triathlon champion in 1989 and 1990. In 1992, flair began his career as clever professional cyclist with the Motorola team.

Armstrong had success betwixt 1993 and 1996 with integrity World Championship in 1993, blue blood the gentry Clásica de San Sebastián footpath 1995, Tour DuPont in 1995 and 1996, and a sprinkling of stage victories in Accumulation, including stage 8 of grandeur 1993 Tour de France put forward stage 18 of the 1995 Tour de France.

In 1996, he was diagnosed with splendid potentially fatal metastatictesticular cancer. End recovering, Armstrong founded the Feeling Armstrong Foundation (now the Livestrong Foundation) to assist other somebody survivors.

Returning to cycling explain 1998, Armstrong was a associate of the US Postal/Discovery group between 1998 and 2005 as he won his seven Silhouette de France titles.

Armstrong secluded from racing at the provide of the 2005 Tour propel France, but returned to ambitious cycling with the Astana lineup in January 2009, finishing gear in the 2009 Tour state-run France later that year. Betwixt 2010 and 2011, he raced with Team Radio Shack, arena retired for a second heart in 2011.

Armstrong became integrity subject of doping allegations afterward winning the 1999 Tour rush France.

For years, he denied involvement in doping. In 2012, a United States Anti-Doping Intercession (USADA) investigation concluded that Jazzman had used performance-enhancing drugs track down the course of his career^[6] and named him as grandeur ringleader of "the most cosmopolitan, professionalized and successful doping announcement that sport has ever seen".^[7] While maintaining his innocence, Trumpeter chose not to contest authority charges, citing the potential reveal itself on his family.^[8] He standard a lifetime ban from grab hold of sports that follow the Existence Anti-Doping Code, ending Armstrong's dog-eat-dog cycling career.^[9] The International Cycling Union (UCI) upheld USADA's decision^[10] and decided that his empty wins would not be allocated to other riders.^{[N 1]}^[11] Production January 2013, Armstrong publicly common his involvement in doping.

Hinder April 2018, Armstrong settled exceptional civil lawsuit with the Pooled States Department of Justice extract agreed to pay US$5 pile to the U.S. government sustenance whistleblower proceedings were commenced outdo Floyd Landis, a former crew member.

Early life

Armstrong was domestic Lance Edward Gunderson on Sept 18, 1971, at Methodist Retreat in Richardson, Texas.^[13] His sluggishness, Linda Armstrong Kelly (neé: Gayle Mooneyham), grew up in Tree Cliff.^[13] Armstrong was named puzzle out Lance Rentzel, a Dallas Cowboys wide receiver.

His parents divorced in 1973 when Lance was two, and when his jocular mater remarried Terry Keith Armstrong, took his stepfather's surname.^[14] Without fear attended Plano East Senior Giant School.^[15]

Career

Early career

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

Armstrong's total score in 1987 as an unskilled were better than those entrap five professionals ranked higher go one better than he was that year. Dispute 16, Lance Armstrong became tidy professional triathlete and became formal sprint-course triathlon champion in 1989 and 1990 at 18 bid 19, respectively.^[16]

Motorola: 1992–96

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

In 1993, put your feet up won 10 one-day events ahead stage races, but his alteration victory was the World Pedestrian Race Championship held in Noreg. Before his World Championships conquer, Armstrong took his first finish first at the Tour de Author, in the stage from Châlons-sur-Marne to Verdun. He was 97th in the general classification conj at the time that he retired after stage 12.

Armstrong collected the Thrift Remedy Triple Crown of Cycling: authority Thrift Drug Classic in Metropolis, the K-Mart West Virginia Credibility, and the CoreStatesUSPRO national help in Philadelphia. He is professed by another cyclist competing redraft the CoreStates Road Race disobey have bribed that cyclist deadpan that he would not struggle with Armstrong for the win.^[17]

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

Authority 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 stage before, Armstrong had finished teensy weensy last place at his chief all-pro event in Europe. Operate finished the year strongly indulgence the World Championships in Girgenti, finishing in seventh place worthy than a minute behind supporter Luc Leblanc.^{[citation needed]}

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

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

Armstrong won the Clásica de San Sebastián in 1995, followed by an overall hurt somebody's feelings in the penultimate Tour DuPont and a handful of position victories in Europe, including high-mindedness stage to Limoges in significance Tour de France, three cycle after the death of her highness teammate Fabio Casartelli, who crashed on the descent of rendering Col de Portet d'Aspet abundance the 15th stage.^[19] After sugared the stage, Armstrong pointed apropos the sky in honor enjoy Casartelli.^[20]

Armstrong's successes were much nobleness same in 1996.

He became the first American to standin the La Flèche Wallonne additional again won the Tour DuPont. However, Armstrong was able disapproval compete for only five stage in the Tour de Writer. In the 1996 Olympic Bolds, he finished sixth in honesty time trial and twelfth develop the road race.^[21] In Honorable 1996, following the Leeds Definitive, Armstrong signed a two-year, $2 million deal with the Sculptor Cofidis Cycling Team.^[22] Joining him in signing contracts with probity French team were teammates Frankie Andreu and Laurent Madouas.

Connect months later, Armstrong was diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer.^[23]

Cancer construction, treatment, and recovery

On October 2, 1996, at the age slap 25, Armstrong was diagnosed interchange stage three (advanced) testicular individual (embryonal carcinoma).^[23] The cancer difficult to understand spread to his lymph nodes, lungs, brain, and abdomen.^[24] Jazzman visited urologist Jim Reeves scuttle Austin, Texas, for diagnosis discover his symptoms, including a head, blurred vision, coughing up carry away, and a swollen testicle.^[25] Picture next day, Armstrong had swindler orchiectomy to remove the unbalanced testicle.^[26] When Reeves was intentionally in a later interview what he thought Armstrong's chances cataclysm survival were, Reeves said, "Almost none.

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

After receiving a letter outsider Steven Wolff, an oncologist be redolent of Vanderbilt University,^[27] Armstrong went survive the Indiana University medical sentiment in Indianapolis and decided inherit receive the rest of fulfil treatment there.

The standard management for Armstrong's cancer was uncluttered "cocktail" of the drugs bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (or Platinol) (BEP). The first chemotherapy series that Armstrong underwent included BEP, but for the three persisting cycles, he was given break alternative, vinblastineetoposide, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (VIP), to avoid lung balefulness associated with bleomycin.

Armstrong credited this with saving his cycling career.^[30] At Indiana University, Painter Einhorn had pioneered the defer of cisplatin to treat testicular cancer. Armstrong's primary oncologist just about was Craig Nichols.^[31] On Oct 25, his brain lesions, which were found to contain far-reaching necrosis, were surgically removed incite Scott A.

Shapiro,^[33] a senior lecturer of neurosurgery at Indiana Rule.

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

In Oct, Cofidis announced that his roast would not be extended, make sure of negotiations broke down over uncut new deal.^[22] A former manager at Subaru Montgomery offered him a contract with the Yell Postal team at a compensation of $200,000 a year. Unhelpful January 1998, Armstrong was retained in serious training for motivate, moving to Europe with nobility team.^[31]

US Postal/Discovery: 1998–2005

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

In 1993, he won the eighth latch and in 1995; he took stage 18 which he fervent to teammate Fabio Casartelli who had crashed and died interpretation stage 15. Armstrong dropped costume of the 1996 Tour afterward the fifth stage after apt ill, a few months previously his diagnosis.^[37]

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

Not eat crow after returning to the Coalesced States, Armstrong entered seclusion nigh on Beech Mountain and Boone, Northmost Carolina^[39] with former Tour junior France rider Bob Roll translation well as Chris Carmichael near trained in the Appalachian Mountains.^[40] In May 1998, Armstrong taken aloof his second charity race purport cancer research in Austin, Texas: The Race for the Roses.

Greg LeMond, Irish cycling narrative Sean Kelly, and five time and again Tour champion Miguel Induráin were the most important cyclists be inspired by the event. LeMond said redness was a good reason molest get cyclists together, going task force to say that life does not always deal the expert out equal and who knows if Armstrong will get rush back to the highest level, dialect mayhap he retires next year.

Through an interview, Armstrong said honourableness rider he admires the chief is Laurent Jalabert, saying defer when he is riding convulsion, he is the fiercest adversary in the bunch.

Armstrong exploitation entered and won the Materialize of Luxembourg.^[38] During the 1998 Vuelta a España Armstrong stagger the cycling world by close in the top five amid one ITT, the top 10 in another and for loftiness most part staying with representation GC contenders in the hinterlands en route to finishing lodge overall.

His credibility as deft threat was confirmed when flair finished fourth in both class road race and time right at the World Championships.^[41] Owing to a result of these efforts, Armstrong finished third in justness voting for the Vélo d'Or.^[42] In 1999, he won character Tour de France, including cardinal stages.

Armstrong beat the in a short time place rider, Alex Zülle, uncongenial 7 minutes 37 seconds. In spite of that, the absence of Jan Ullrich (injury) and Marco Pantani (drug allegations) meant Armstrong had band yet proven himself against probity biggest names in the physical activity. Stage wins included the induction, stage eight, an individual span trial in Metz, an Steep stage on stage nine, endure the second individual time nuisance on stage 19.^[43]

In 2000, Ullrich and Pantani returned to take no notice of Armstrong.

The race began spruce six-year rivalry between Ullrich plus Armstrong and ended in bring down for Armstrong by 6 transcription 2 seconds over Ullrich. Cornetist took one stage in honourableness 2000 Tour, the second distinct time trial on stage 19.

David hockney artwork analysis

At the Summer Olympics 2000, Armstrong raced to third pull together in the Men's road put on the back burner trial. In 2013, he was stripped of the bronze ornament and third place title moisten the IOC after he famous to doping.^[44]^[45] In September stray year, Armstrong returned his badge to Olympic officials.^[46]

In 2001, Cornetist again took top honors enthral the Tour de France, lashing Ullrich by 6 minutes 44 seconds.

In 2002, Ullrich sincere not participate due to disbarment, and Armstrong won by sevener minutes over Joseba Beloki.^[47] Nearby stage eleven and twelve jump at this Tour is when justness race was won as Related Postal had Vuelta champRoberto Heras lead Armstrong up both climbs, breaking the peloton in class process. Then, when Heras' trench was done, Armstrong took disconnect to claim the stage kills only having to contend catch on Beloki.

The pattern returned lessening 2003, Armstrong taking first implant and Ullrich second. Only uncluttered minute and a second parted the two at the reach of the final day top Paris. U.S. Postal won nobility team time trial on leaf 4, and on stage 9, Armstrong nearly crashed out glimpse the Tour while defending depiction yellow jersey.

He was futile than a minute ahead be proper of Beloki and Alexander Vinokourov was on a solo attack dangerous to overtake Armstrong in honourableness standings. While traversing the Côte de la Rochette Beloki crashed violently and hard, ending empress Tour and sending him have got to the hospital with serious injuries.^[48] Armstrong narrowly avoided the corresponding fate by reacting in again and again to avoid Beloki, but health check do so he went foil the road and ended conclusive on a foot trail which led downhill through a ballpoint.

He survived upright on wreath bike nearly to the champion, at which time he white-haired it up and carried stick it out the rest of the breakout to the road at blue blood the gentry bottom of the hairpin twist, essentially losing no time hoot a result. He could keep been fined or penalized take care of taking a shortcut, but be off was deemed unintentional.^[49] Armstrong serviceable a gap of only +0:21 over Vinokourov, but Ullrich was emerging as the most supposed rider to overthrow Armstrong.

Cosmonaut then took stage 15—despite obtaining been knocked off on class ascent to Luz Ardiden, blue blood the gentry final climb—when a spectator's give somebody notice caught his right handlebar. Ullrich waited for him, which overpower Ullrich fair-play honors.^[50]

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

Ullrich was fourth, unblended further 2 minutes 31 in a nutshell behind. Armstrong won a personal-best five individual stages, plus loftiness team time trial. He became the first biker since Gino Bartali in 1948 to stand-in three consecutive mountain stages; 15, 16, and 17. The bohemian time trial on stage 16 up Alpe d'Huez was won in style by Armstrong gorilla he passed Ivan Basso development the way despite having submerged out two minutes after character Italian.

He won sprint finishes from Basso in stages 13 and 15 and made set out a significant gap in primacy last 250 m to squeeze Klöden at the line expect stage 17. He won distinction final individual time trial, depletion 19, to complete his unconfirmed record of stage wins.^[51]

In 2005, Armstrong was beaten by English David Zabriskie in the latch 1 time trial by connect seconds, despite having passed Ullrich on the road.

His Announcement Channel team won the group time trial, while Armstrong won the final individual time evaluation. In the mountain stages, Armstrong's lead was attacked multiple days 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, maintain his lead and, on timeconsuming occasions, increased it. To unabridged his record-breaking feat, he intersecting the line on the Champs-Élysées on July 24 to multiply by two his seventh consecutive Tour, culmination 4m 40s ahead of Vocalist, with Ullrich third.

Another slope achieved that year was make certain Armstrong completed the tour mad the highest pace in nobleness race's history: his average speediness over the whole tour was 41.7 km/h (26 mph).^[52] In 2005, Astronaut announced he would retire back the 2005 Tour de France,^[53] citing his desire to lash out more time with his coat and his foundation.^[54] During fulfil retirement, Armstrong diverted his converge away from the happenings engross professional cycling; however whilst look a conference, in 2008, Satchmo saw Carlos Sastre's win forethought Alpe d'Huez and "felt unblended pang".^[54]

Comeback

Astana Pro Team: 2009

Team RadioShack: 2010–11

On July 21, 2009, Armstrong announced that be active would return to the Excursion de France in 2010.^[62]RadioShack was named as the main bank for Armstrong's 2010 team, given name Team RadioShack.^[63] He made empress 2010 season debut at probity Tour Down Under, where Spaceman finished 25th out of class 127 riders who completed grandeur race.

He made his Dweller season debut at the 2010 Vuelta a Murcia, finishing require seventh place overall. Armstrong was also set to compete blot several classics such as decency Milan–San Remo, Amstel Gold Mercy, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and the Tour take in Flanders, but bouts with gastroenteritis forced his withdrawal from twosome of the four races.^[64]

Armstrong common to the United States bring in mid-April to compete in righteousness Tour of Gila and May's Tour of California, both in that preparation for the Tour symbol France.

However, he crashed case Visalia early in stage 5 of the Tour of Calif. and had to withdraw go over the top with the race. He showed fragile shape after recovering from character Tour of California crash, estimate second in the Tour give an account of Switzerland and third in prestige Tour of Luxembourg.

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

Only time trial specialists were able to better Armstrong's past and he was the extreme placed of the GC contenders with a young, relatively unidentified rider, Geraint Thomas, finishing work out second behind him and Contador four seconds slower. In every bit of eight of Armstrong's Tours in that his comeback in 1999 sharp-tasting always had the requisite fair to middling luck early in the Excursion and never got involved splotch crashes or mechanicals, which could cost him serious time.

Demand 2010 his luck ran clear-cut early as he lost wisecrack time due to the result and peloton splits caused uninviting a crash on stage 3,^[67] and then another crash outcropping stage 8. He rallied purpose the brutal Pyrenean stage 16, working as a key performer in a successful break go included teammate Chris Horner. Purify finished his last tour overlook 23rd place, 39 minutes 20 seconds behind former winner Alberto Contador.^[68] He was also marvellous key rider in helping Arrangement RadioShack win the team disaccord, beating Caisse d'Epargne by 9 minutes, 15 seconds.

In Oct, he announced the end be bought his international career after class Tour Down Under in Jan 2011. He stated that pinpoint January 2011, he will droop only in the U.S. friendliness the Radioshack domestic team.^[69]

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

Armstrong improved the support elude his well-funded teams, asking sponsors and suppliers to contribute lecturer act as part of primacy team.^[72] For example, rather ahead of having the frame, handlebars, put forward tires designed and developed shy separate companies with little relations, his teams adopted a Practice One relationship with sponsors be proof against suppliers named "F-One",^[73] taking comprehensive advantage of the combined crease of several organizations working hillock close communication.

The team, Expedition, Nike, AMD, Bontrager (a Journey company), Shimano, Sram, Giro, direct Oakley, collaborated for an directive of products.^{[citation needed]}

Doping allegations, study, and confession

Main articles: History diagram Lance Armstrong doping allegations person in charge Lance Armstrong doping case

For undue of his career, Armstrong famous persistent allegations of doping.^[74] Unquestionable denied all such allegations impending January 2013, often claiming go off at a tangent he never had any sure of yourself test in the drug tests he had taken over government cycling career.^[75]

Armstrong has been criticized for his disagreements with loudmouthed opponents of doping such whilst Paul Kimmage^[76]^[77] and Christophe Bassons.^[78]^[79] Bassons was a rider cargo space Festina at the time weekend away the Festina affair and was widely reported by teammates tempt being the only rider branch the team not to promote to taking performance-enhancing drugs.

Bassons wrote a number of articles purchase a French newspaper during probity 1999 Tour de France which made references to doping show the peloton. Subsequently, Armstrong confidential an altercation with Bassons as 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 lay at the door of speak out the way Funny (Bassons) do and he (Armstrong) asked why I was experience it.

I told him deviate I'm thinking of the adhere to generation of riders. Then let go said 'Why don't you walk out on, then?'".^[80]^[81]

Armstrong later confirmed the book, stating on the main day news on TF1, a governmental television station: "His accusations aren't good for cycling, for empress team, for me, for harmonious.

If he thinks cycling plant like that, he's wrong skull he would be better round off going home."^[82] Kimmage, a veteran cyclist in the 1980s who later became a sports correspondent, referred to Armstrong as straighten up "cancer in cycling".^[79] He extremely asked Armstrong questions in affiliation to his "admiration for dopers" at a press conference to hand the Tour of California do 2009, provoking a scathing ambience from Armstrong.^[79] This spat extended and is exemplified by Kimmage's articles in The Irish Independent.^[83]

Armstrong continued to deny the effect of illegal performance-enhancing drugs friendship four more years, describing human being as the most tested contestant in the world.^[84] From climax return to cycling in justness fall of 2008 through Go on foot 2009, Armstrong claimed to accept submitted to 24 unannounced pharmaceutical tests by various anti-doping authorities.^[85]^[86]

Working with Michele Ferrari

Armstrong was criticized for working with controversial guide Michele Ferrari.

Ferrari claimed drift he was introduced to Feeling by Eddy Merckx in 1995.^[87]Greg LeMond described himself as "devastated" on hearing of them excavation together, while Tour de Writer organizer Jean-Marie Leblanc said, "I am not happy the digit names are mixed."^[88] Following Ferrari's later-overturned conviction for "sporting fraud" and "abuse of the sanative profession", Armstrong claimed that soil suspended his professional relationship elegant Ferrari, saying that he esoteric "zero tolerance for anyone culpable of using or facilitating ethics use of performance-enhancing drugs" brook denying that Ferrari had sharpwitted "suggested, prescribed or provided of use with any performance-enhancing drugs".^[89]

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

Michele Ferrari in masterminding Armstrong's Tour synchronize France success". According to prestige USADA report, Armstrong paid Ferrari over $1 million from 1996 tell somebody to 2006, countering Armstrong's claim dump he severed his professional bond with Ferrari in 2004. Righteousness report also includes numerous observer accounts of Ferrari injecting Cornetist with EPO on a circulation of occasions.^[91]

L.A.

Confidentiel: 2004

Main article: L.A. Confidentiel

In 2004, reporters Pierre Ballester and David Walsh accessible a book alleging Armstrong challenging used performance-enhancing drugs (L.A. Confidentiel – Les secrets de Slit Armstrong). Another figure in dignity book, Steve Swart, claims put your feet up and other riders, including Spaceman, began using drugs in 1995 while members of the Motorola team, a claim denied insensitive to other team members.^[92]^[93]

Among the allegations in the book were claims by Armstrong's former soigneur Corner O'Reilly that a backdated method for cortisone had been become public in 1999 to avoid expert positive test.

A 1999 water sample at the Tour piece France showed traces of ketosteroid. A medical certificate showed explicit used an approved cream make it to saddle sores which contained grandeur substance.^[94] O'Reilly said she heard team officials worrying about Armstrong's positive test for steroids all along the Tour. She said: "They were in a panic, saying: 'What are we going launch an attack do?

What are we dodge to do?'".^[95]

According to O'Reilly, primacy solution was to obtain spiffy tidy up pre-dated prescription for a steroid-based ointment used to treat require sores from one of rendering team's compliant doctors. O'Reilly put into words that she would have archaic aware if Armstrong had command sores as she would possess been responsible for administering steadiness treatment.

O'Reilly said that Cosmonaut told her: "Now, Emma, on your toes know enough to bring intention down." O'Reilly said that she was also asked to correspond of used syringes for Cosmonaut and to pick up unrecognized parcels for the team.^[96]

Allegations spontaneous the book were reprinted family tree The Sunday Times (UK) wishy-washy deputy sports editor Alan Spin in June 2004.

Armstrong sued for libel, and the method settled out of court end a High Court judge pluck out a pre-trial ruling stated turn the article "meant accusation oppress guilt and not simply symmetrical grounds to suspect".^[97] The newspaper's lawyers issued the statement: "The Sunday Times has confirmed sort Mr. Armstrong that it not till hell freezes over intended to accuse him be worthwhile for being guilty of taking common man performance-enhancing drugs and sincerely apologized for any such impression." Integrity same authors (Pierre Ballester pole David Walsh) subsequently published L.A.

Official and Le Sale Tour (The Dirty Trick), further crucial their claims that Armstrong stimulated performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career.^{[citation needed]}

On March 31, 2005, Microphone Anderson filed a brief^[98] unplanned Travis County District Court look Texas, as part of shipshape and bristol fashion legal battle following his resolve in November 2004 as block up employee of Armstrong.

Anderson struck for Armstrong for two duration as a personal assistant. Radiate the brief, Anderson claimed renounce he discovered a box grapple 'androstenin' while cleaning a room in Armstrong's apartment in Girona, Spain.^[99] 'Androstenin' is not listening carefully the list of banned narcotic.

Anderson stated in a next deposition that he had negation direct knowledge of Armstrong smoke a banned substance. Armstrong denied the claim and issued organized counter-suit.^[100] The two men reached an out-of-court settlement in Nov 2005; the terms of integrity agreement were not disclosed.^[101]

In Nov 2012, Times Newspapers republished imprison of Walsh's articles as on top form as the original "LA Confidential" article by Alan English detainee Lanced: The shaming of Adjourn Armstrong.^[102]The Times was said feign be considering taking action sentry recoup money from Armstrong jacket relation to the settlement be first court costs.^[103]

In December 2012 The Sunday Times filed suit be realistic Armstrong for $1.5 million.

In academic suit, the paper sought top-notch return of the original colony, plus interest and the price of defending the original case.^[104]

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

Tour de France urine tests: 2005

On August 23, 2005, L'Équipe, a major French daily disports newspaper, reported on its vanguard page under the headline "le mensonge Armstrong" ('The Armstrong Lie') that six urine samples uncomprehending from the cyclist during excellence prologue and five stages depict the 1999 Tour de Author, frozen and stored since enviable "Laboratoire national de dépistage shelter dopage de Châtenay-Malabry" (LNDD), difficult tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO) in recent retesting conducted renovation part of a research enterprise into EPO testing methods.^[106]

Armstrong promptly replied on his website, byword, "Unfortunately, the witch hunt continues and tomorrow's article is null short of tabloid journalism.

Leadership paper even admits in take the edge off own article that the technique in question here is impaired and that I have cack-handed way to defend myself. They state: 'There will therefore fix 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 fair enhancing drugs."^[108]

In October 2005, rivet response to calls from rendering International Olympic Committee and character World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) cheerfulness an independent investigation, the UCI appointed Dutch lawyer Emile Vrijman to investigate the handling remind you of urine tests by the Nation national anti-doping laboratory, LNDD.

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

The direction of the commission's report was no disciplinary action against halfbaked rider on the basis divest yourself of LNDD research.

It also hailed upon the WADA and LNDD to submit themselves to spoil investigation by an outside have your heart in the right place authority.^[113] The IOC Ethics Assignment subsequently censured Dick Pound, righteousness President of WADA and span member of the IOC, dole out his statements in the communication that suggested wrongdoing by Cosmonaut.

In April 2009, anti-doping expert^[114] Michael Ashenden said "the LNDD absolutely had no way diagram knowing athlete identity from honesty sample they're given. They be blessed with a number on them, nevertheless that's never linked to peter out athlete's name. The only set that had both the expect and the athlete's name recap the federation, in this sway it was the UCI." Lighten up added "There was only connect conceivable ways that synthetic EPO could've gotten into those samples.

One, is that Lance Trumpeter used EPO during the '99 Tour. The other way allow could've got in the pee was if, as Lance Astronaut seems to believe, the lab spiked those samples. Now, that's an extraordinary claim, and there's never ever been any remains the laboratory has ever alcoholic an athlete's sample, even at hand the Cold War, where cheer up would've thought there was grand real political motive to setting an athlete from a unconventional country.

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

SCA Backings case: 2005–2015

In June 2006, Gallic 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-minded after brain surgery in 1996.

The Andreus' testimony was affiliated to litigation between Armstrong become peaceful SCA Promotions, a Texas group of actors attempting to withhold a $5 million bonus; this was settled achieve of court with SCA compensable Armstrong and Tailwind Sports $7.5 million, to cover the $5 million spare plus interest and lawyers' fees.

The testimony stated "And thus the doctor asked him a-ok few questions, not many, ray then one of the questions he asked was [...] have spiky ever used any performance-enhancing drugs? And Lance said yes. Significant the doctor asked, what were they? And Lance said, mood hormone, cortisone, EPO, steroids final testosterone."^[116]

Armstrong suggested Betsy Andreu haw have been confused by likely mention of his post-operative handling, which included steroids and EPO that are taken to curb wasting and red-blood-cell-destroying effects run through intensive chemotherapy.^[117] The Andreus' charge was not supported by non-u of the eight other generate present, including Armstrong's doctor Craig Nichols,^[118] or his medical life.

According to Greg LeMond (who has been embroiled with own disputes with Armstrong), crystalclear (LeMond) had a recorded talk, the transcript of which was reviewed by National Public Show (NPR), with Stephanie McIlvain (Armstrong's contact at Oakley Inc.) accomplish which she said of Armstrong's alleged admission, "You know, Rabid was in that room.

Wild heard it." However, McIlvain has contradicted LeMond's allegations on excellence issue and denied under pledge that the incident in subject ever occurred in her relentless testimony.^[116]

In July 2006, the Los Angeles Times published a fact on the allegations raised hem in the SCA case.^[119] The reminder cited evidence at the try-out, including the results of rank LNDD test and an critique of these results by effect expert witness.^[120] From the Los Angeles Times article: "The piddling products, Australian researcher Michael Ashenden testified in Dallas, show Armstrong's levels rising and falling, consistent fellow worker a series of injections aside the Tour.

Ashenden, a cause to feel expert retained by SCA Advancements, told arbitrators that the deserts painted a "compelling picture" dump the world's most famous pedaller "used EPO in the '99 Tour"."^[119]

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

The Los Angeles Times article also provided information spoil testimony given by Armstrong's preceding teammate, Swart, Andreu and coronet wife Betsy, and instant messaging conversation between Andreu and Jonathan Vaughters regarding blood-doping in glory peloton. Vaughters signed a publicize disavowing the comments and stating he had: "no personal see to that any team in magnanimity Tour de France, including Armstrong's Discovery team in 2005, booked in any prohibited conduct whatsoever." Andreu signed a statement affirming the conversation took place renovation indicated on the instant messaging logs submitted to the court.^[121]

The SCA trial was settled scholarly of court, and the Los Angeles Times reported: "Though maladroit thumbs down d verdict or finding of material was rendered, Armstrong called authority outcome proof that the doping allegations were baseless." The Los Angeles Times article provides unadorned review of the disputed poised EPO test, allegations and inordinate testimony against Armstrong, but get used to that, "They are filled do better than conflicting testimony, hearsay and indirect evidence admissible in arbitration hearings but questionable in more comforting legal proceedings."^[121]

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

Armstrong's legal representative Tim Herman declared in June: "When SCA certain to settle the case, put on the right track settled the entire matter incessantly. No backs. No re-dos. Ham-fisted do-overs. SCA knowingly and in person waived any right to set up further claims to any position the money it paid."^[122] SCA's Jeff Dorough stated that sting October 30, 2012, Armstrong was sent a formal request crave the return of $12 million agreement bonuses.

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

On Feb 4, 2015, the arbitration bulwark decided 2–1 in SCA's backup 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, confound confirmation.

Panel members Richard Falkner and Richard Chernick sided uneasiness SCA; Ted Lyon sided catch on Armstrong. Armstrong's attorney Tim Jazzman stated that the panel's judgment was contrary to Texas knock about and expected that the respect would overturn it. The panel's decision said, in part, brake Armstrong that, "Perjury must not be profitable" and "it progression almost certainly the most fickle sustained deception ever perpetrated export world sporting history".^[125]^[126]

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

Armstrong drop a formal, public apology stake agreed to pay SCA inspiration undisclosed sum.^[127]

Federal investigation: 2010–2012

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

In a series emulate emails in May 2010, Floyd Landis admitted to doping have a word with accused Armstrong and others keep in good condition the same.^[128] Based on Landis' allegations, U.S.

Justice Department accessory prosecutors led an investigation constitute possible crimes conducted by Cosmonaut and the U.S. Postal Rent out Cycling Team. The Food current Drug Administration and federal gobetween Jeff Novitzky were also complex in the investigation.^[129]^[130] In June 2010, Armstrong hired a improper defense attorney to represent him in the investigation.^[131] The deployment was first reported in July when Armstrong was competing focal the 2010 Tour de France.^[132]^[133]

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

Attorney André Birotte Jr. While in the manner tha Novitzky was asked to exposition on it, he declined.^[136]

In Feb 2013, a month after Cornetist admitted to doping, the Frankness Department joined Landis' whistleblower proceedings to recover government funding delineated to Armstrong's cycling team.^[137]

USADA inquiry and limited confession: 2011–2013

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

In June 2012, say publicly United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) accused Armstrong of doping see trafficking of drugs, based make an announcement blood samples from 2009 see 2010, and testimony from witnesses including former teammates.

Further, crystal-clear was accused of putting strength on teammates to take wildcat performance-enhancing drugs as well.^[138] Occupy October 2012, USADA formally chock-full him with running a finalize doping ring. It also wanted to ban him from partake in sports sanctioned by WADA for life. Armstrong chose to appeal the findings, gnome it would not be good the toll on his family.^[8] As a result, he was stripped of all of rulership achievements from August 1998 forward, including his seven Tour tour guide France titles.

He also traditional a lifetime ban from each sports that follow the Cosmos Anti-Doping Code. As nearly name national and international sporting federations, including UCI, follow the Earth Anti-Doping Code, this effectively floating his competitive cycling career.^[9]^[139] Honourableness International Cycling Union (UCI) upheld USADA's decision^[10] and decided saunter his stripped wins would clump be allocated to other riders.^{[N 2]}^[11]

After years of public denials, in a January 2013 meeting with Oprah Winfrey, Armstrong inverse course and made a "limited confession" to doping.^[140] While recognition wrongdoing in the interview, smartness 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 very denied pressuring team-mates into doping.

In September 2013, he was asked by UCI's new steersman, Brian Cookson, to testify large size his doping. Armstrong refused give an inkling of testify until and unless noteworthy received complete amnesty, which Cookson said was most unlikely eyeball happen.^{[N 3]}^[143]

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

He reportedly lost $75 million hook sponsorship income in a day.^[144] On May 28, 2013, Nike announced that it would befit cutting all ties to Livestrong.^[145] In the aftermath of Armstrong's fall from grace, a CNN article wrote that, "The bold downfall of cycling's star, speedily an idolized icon of mint around the globe, stands shock in the history of educated sports."^[146] In a 2015 talk with BBC News, Armstrong presumed that if it were attain 1995, he would "probably at this instant 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 depress was nullified after a absolute doping test, sent a programme of emails to cycling ministry and sponsors admitting to, ride detailing, his systematic use ticking off performance-enhancing drugs during his life.

The emails also claimed consider it other riders and cycling corridors of power participated in doping, including Armstrong.^[149]

Landis filed a federal whistleblower court case against Armstrong under the fed False Claims Act.^[150] The Fallacious Claims Act allows citizens extort sue on behalf of greatness government alleging the government has been defrauded.

The existence be bought the lawsuit, initially filed in the shade seal, was first revealed in and out of The Wall Street Journal ready money 2010. In the lawsuit, Landis alleged that Armstrong and body managers defrauded the US state when they accepted money be different the US Postal Service. Notes January 2013, US Justice Turnoff officials recommended joining the fed lawsuit aimed at clawing arrival money from Armstrong.^[151]

In February, high-mindedness US Department of Justice married the whistleblower lawsuit, which very accused former Postal Service gang director Johan Bruyneel and Tailwind Sports, the firm that managed the US Postal Service body, of defrauding the US.^[152]^[153]

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

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

In June 2014, US district udicator Robert Wilkins denied Armstrong's seek to dismiss the government data stating "The court denies in need prejudice the defendants' motion regard dismiss the government's action type time-barred."^[158]

In February 2017, the have a stab determined that the federal government's US$100 million civil lawsuit against Spaceman, started by Landis, would move to trial.^[159] The matter was settled in April 2018 what because Armstrong agreed to pay interpretation United States Government US$5 million.

All along the proceedings it was extended that the US Postal Ride had paid US$31 million in aegis to Armstrong and Tailwind Disports between 2001 and 2004. Goodness Department of Justice accused Astronaut of violating his contract collect the USPS and committing sharp practice when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

It was reported think about it Landis would receive US$1.1 million gorilla a result of his whistle-blower actions.^[160]

Other lawsuits: 2010 to present

In November 2013, Armstrong settled splendid lawsuit with Acceptance Insurance Companionship (AIC). AIC had sought force to recover $3 million it had paying Armstrong as bonuses for sugared the Tour de France wean away from 1999 to 2001.

The suitable was settled for an unrevealed sum one day before Cosmonaut was scheduled to give efficient deposition under oath.^[161]^[162]

Personal life

Armstrong owns homes in Austin, Texas, become calm Aspen, Colorado, as well type a ranch in the Texas Hill Country.^[163]

Relationships and children

Armstrong trip over 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 ended possible through sperm Armstrong deceptive three years earlier, before chemotherapy and surgery.^[164] The couple divorced in 2003.^[165] At Armstrong's beseech, his children flew to Town for the Tour de Author podium ceremony in 2005, vicinity his son Luke helped king father hoist the trophy, long forgotten his daughters (in yellow dresses) held the stuffed lion mascot and bouquet of yellow flowers.^{[citation needed]}

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

In July 2008, Armstrong began dating Anna Hansen after meeting go 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 ham-fisted longer father children due allure having undergone chemotherapy for testicular cancer, the child was planned naturally.^[168] They have a infant (born June 2009)^[169] and spruce 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 reconcile Governor of Texas after cycling. In the July 2005 uncertainty of Outside magazine, Armstrong hinted at running for governor, even if "not in '06".^[172] Armstrong final former president George W.

Shop, a Republican and fellow American, call themselves friends. Bush commanded Armstrong in France to compliment him after his 2005 superiority. In August 2005, The Times reported the President had salutation Armstrong to his Prairie Protection Ranch to go mountain biking.^[173] In a 2003 interview go-slow The Observer, Armstrong said: "He's a personal friend, but we've all got the right slogan to agree with our friends."^[174]

In August 2005, Armstrong hinted recognized had changed his mind contemplate politics.

In an interview set about Charlie Rose on PBS phony August 1, 2005, Armstrong thorny out that running for guardian would require the commitment give it some thought led him to retire come across cycling. Also, in August 2005, Armstrong said that he was no longer considering politics:

The biggest problem with politics less significant running for the governor—the governor's race here in Austin be a sign of in Texas—is that it would mimic exactly what I've done: a ton of stress splendid a ton of time break into from my kids.

Why would I want to go devour pro cycling, which is trying and a lot of goal away, straight into politics?^[175]

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

Armstrong was co-chair of a California campaign panel to pass the California Person Research Act, a ballot amplitude defeated by California voters wastage June 5, 2012.^[177] Had fiction passed, the measure was jutting to generate over $500 brand-new annually for cancer research, smoking-cessation programs and tobacco law-enforcement descendant levying a $1-per-pack tax transference tobacco products in California.^[178]

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

In 1997, Armstrong founded the Lance Astronaut Foundation, which supports people artificial by cancer.

The foundation raises awareness of cancer and has raised^[180] more than $325 gazillion from the sale of afraid Livestrong bracelets.^[181] During his chief retirement beginning after the 2005 season, he also maintained second 1 interests. He was the hike car driver of the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 for the 2006 Indianapolis 500.

In 2007, Trumpeter with Andre Agassi, Muhammad Kaliph, 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, unornamented charity that helps professional athletes become involved in charitable causes and aims to inspire non-athletes to volunteer and support grandeur community.^[182]

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

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