Armstrong Threatened Ex-Teammate Hamilton

Armstrong threatened ex-teammate Hamilton

Extracts of USADA's report reveals how Armstrong threatened ex-teammate Hamilton about testifying against him apart from uncovering his tainted past

2012-10-25 09:02:07

October 25, 2012

US Postal Service staff aided team in doping

Seven eyewitnesses from the 1998 US Postal Service cycling team have provided testimony to USADA regarding doping on the team in 1998. Riders on the team were using performance enhancing substances including EPO, testosterone, human growth hormone and cortisone as confirmed by team employee Emma O’Reilly and riders Frankie Andreu, Tyler Hamilton, George Hincapie and Jonathan Vaughters. The staff was clearly part of the doping operation. These drugs were administered by Dr Pedro Celaya. Vaughters recalls that Dr Celaya would openly pass out EPO to team members. Emma O’Reilly recalls being asked to transport testosterone by a fellow team employee. Armstrong also required O’Reilly to dispose of used syringes following the Tour of the Netherlands.

In addition, from time to time other US Postal Service team staff members were required to transport drugs. For instance, O’Reilly described making a eighteen hour roundtrip in May 1999 at Armstrong’s request from France, to Piles, Spain and then all the way to Nice in order to deliver a bottle of pills to Armstrong that she understood to be banned drugs.

Lance injected himself in front of teammate Vaughters

By 1998 Armstrong’s former Motorola teammates Hincapie and Andreu were aware of his EPO use. Vaughters also believed Armstrong was likely using EPO — there were some tell tale signs, such as Lance carrying around a thermos. However, prior to the 1998 Vuelta a España Vaughters could not be absolutely sure of Armstrong’s EPO use. During this time frame several riders, in addition to Vaughters, saw Armstrong carrying a thermos and associated it with him using EPO. One evening while Vaugthers was in Armstrong’s room borrowing Armstrong’s laptop...