Lance Armstrong Lifetime Ban Cycling

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

I listened to a very interesting and behind the scenes interview a guy named Tyler Hamilton a former professional cyclist and a ex team mate with Lance Armstrong who admitted live on radio this morning that yes they took drugs together!

There has been a lot reported in the media on drugs and corruption in the sport and this interview was amazing to listen to.

They were team mates for four years he said the early years were fine however towards the end he noticed a dark side to Lance Armstrong.

Tyler did not hold back when he said it was best not to get on the wrong side of Lance, the last time they saw each other a lot of negative and explicate words were spoken between the two.

Tyler is publicly saying that back then when the drugs were so common on the inside that they were always two steps ahead of the tests and it was very corrupt.

Tyler was first introduced to doping in 1997 by the team doctor, Lance didn’t come into the team until a year later 1998, there was a lot of bullying back then for the cyclestits to get into doping.

So these sophisticated doctors were pressuring the riders and with the drug control testing telling them what you could take, how long before the tests you could take it  and by following there procedure you will pass the tests, so basically they were able to train and compete harder while recovering quicker.

Tyler reached the top tier of the sport back then when the system was still in the dark ages of cycling however even though the sport is a lot cleaner at the top now he also agrees that it would be still going on to this day. The culture has changed to some degree however drug taking is still happening.

A high price in sport to become a champion for these individuals to take testosterone, EPO, blood transfusions, human growth hormones is just stupid and now there reputation to the sport is tarnished forever.

Whatever happened to the good old bucket or oranges cut up into quarters for our half time break in sports they were the days hey.

He said he had worked with a doping doctor in the last few years of his competing in Europe and while he can’t name names admitted it was also going on in other sports and with athletes.

His honesty was refreshing, and while the history books will have him written down as a drug cheat all his results will be scratched, he really wants to be remembered not only as the guy who made the wrong decisions, however a guy who also helped clean the sport up that he grew up loving.

Also while these sportsman are being named and shamed I think the faceless men behind the scenes the doctors and officials involved should also be named and shamed.

Have a great day and don’t be pressured into taking drugs of any sort.