US agency set to table evidence against Armstrong

JULIET MACUR

The United States Anti-Doping Agency is preparing to unveil some details of its doping case against Lance Armstrong this week, a move bound to send more shocks through the bruised sport of cycling.

A report prepared by the anti-doping agency is expected to lay out the key evidence against Armstrong, who in August decided not to fight accusations that he had used performance-enhancing drugs and that he had helped run a systematic doping program on his Tour de France-winning teams. Armstrong, who denies having used banned substances, was subsequently stripped of his seven Tour titles and was barred from any role in an Olympic sport for life.

Dreaded dossier

The dossier will probably include witness testimony from some of Armstrong's teammates and former close friends like George Hincapie, the only rider to be at Armstrong's side for each of his Tour victories. Hincapie, considered one of the most respected American cyclists in recent history, has not tested positive for doping and has never said he has doped.

According to a person with knowledge of the case, the riders who provided testimony include several top American cyclists of Armstrong's generation. Among those are Levi Leipheimer, Christian Vande Velde and Dave Zabriskie — three riders who competed in this past summer's Tour and have never said they have doped. The case file will probably include penalties that those riders might have received if they admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs or having blood transfusions.

Tyler Hamilton, one of Armstrong's former lieutenants on the United States Postal Service team, has revealed some particulars of what he said was organised doping on the Postal Service squad in his book, "The Secret Race," published last month. He said Armstrong, team management and team staff encouraged the use of performance-enhancing drugs, and at times administered those drugs.

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