SPORTS ZONE 2: French to Investigate Armstrong

Last Thursday, French authorities announced they will investigate whether or not the world’s most famous cyclist, Lance Armstrong, used illegal performance enhancing substances. In a book published last summer, Armstrong’s assistant, Emma O’Reilly, accused him of taking pills and disposing of used syringes (which are used to inject drugs into the body).

Authors David Walsh and Pierre Ballester wrote “L.A. Confidential--The Secrets Lance Armstrong." The cyclist is suing them for defamation of character.

According to a January 20th French newspaper, O’Reilly flew from her native England to France in July of 2004. There she told her story about Armstrong to French lawyers. Armstrong knew the book existed. That same month, he pleaded with French judges to include in the book that he denied any drug use.

Armstrong first started cycling seriously in high school. After much success in his early career, Armstrong was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 25. According to doctors, the cancer had spread to his lungs and brain. After several surgeries and aggressive chemotherapy, Armstrong fought the cancer into remission and recovered. In 1999 he won his first of six consecutive Tours de France.

Despite the accusations, Armstrong remains upbeat and promises to cooperate with the investigators. "They are also welcome to review my long history of tests for performance enhancing drugs, which I have never failed," he said in a statement released last week. "I will be competing in Paris-Nice in March. I am confident my name will be cleared, and I look forward to racing in France for years to come."

--Written by Sarah Kurachek

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