See the 60 Minutes report, based on an interview with former Armstrong teammate and Athens 2004 gold medalist Tyler Hamilton, here.
The 60 Minutes report revealed that both Hamilton and Armstrong's right-hand man George Hincapie had been ordered to testify at the Grand Jury hearings into allegations of doping on the United States Postal Service-sponsored cycling team.
Armstrong did not appear on 60 Minutes nor did he address the accusations via a written statement. If proven, the fall of Armstrong would be the biggest disgrace in sports history and would dwarf the Tiger Woods sex scandal.
Though Woods's misdeeds harmed his image, they did not harm the integrity of golf. Armstrong, on the other hand, is accused of cheating to win. Both Armstrong and Woods are among Nike's top-sponsored athletes. What might be Armstrong's only shield is his crusade against cancer via the Livestrong Foundation. The foundation has raised $400 million to fight the disease.
While I watched the 60 Minutes expose, I reminisced about Armstrong's appearance at the University of British Columbia on Sept. 23, 2007 for a regional cancer fundraiser. His visit coincided with former teammate Floyd Landis's doping scandal.
Just three days earlier, 2006 Tour de France champion Landis had been suspended for two years because he failed a doping test during the Tour. Armstrong ducked questions about Landis.
In May 2010, Landis went on 60 Minutes to tell the truth about his doping and point the finger at Armstrong.
Sept. 23, 2007: Vancouver 24 Hours: Armstrong leads B.C. ride against cancer
Bob Mackin
Lance Armstrong spent the weekend in British Columbia to seek a cure for cancer, not the doping crisis that threatens the race that made him famous.
That’s why the cancer survivor and seven-time Tour de France champion wouldn’t discuss disgraced 2006 winner Floyd Landis, who lost a bid last week to overturn a positive test for synthetic testosterone.
“I’d love to answer the question, but I’m out of that business,” Armstrong said yesterday. “I’m here to fight cancer.”
Armstrong headlined the inaugural B.C. Cancer Foundation Tour of Courage, which
raised $1.8 million for blood cancer research. He led an 80-kilometre ride around south Kelowna on Saturday for 46 people who raised or donated $20,000 each. About 400 cyclists joined him at Thunderbird Stadium for yesterday’s community ride. Adults raised or donated $1,000 each; the minimum for teenagers was $200.
Armstrong’s peloton included retired Tour de France veterans Steve Bauer and Axel Merckx and cycling commentator Phil Liggett. Premier Gordon Campbell and Kelowna-Mission MLA Sindi Hawkins, herself a cancer survivor, also participated.
It wasn’t the first time Texan Armstrong pedaled in Vancouver. He won the 1991 Gastown Grand Prix.
“Up to that point it was probably one of my biggest victories -- Gastown Grand Prix, everybody talked about it,” he said. “I came here not necessarily being a criterium specialist, but was able to win.”
Armstrong said B.C.’s strong cancer research and fundraising network made his involvement in the Tour of Courage an easy decision. He hinted at a return.
“We need passionate people, we need people that are motivated to fight this war and that’s what you guys have,” he said.
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