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Former assistant says he found banned drug in Armstrong's apartment

Discussion in 'Other Sports' started by AroundTheWorld, Mar 31, 2005.

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  1. AroundTheWorld

    AroundTheWorld Member

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    AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A former personal assistant to Lance Armstrong filed court papers Thursday alleging that he discovered a banned substance in the six-time Tour de France winner's apartment early last year.

    Mike Anderson, who is involved in a legal fight with Armstrong over alleged promises the cyclist made to help Anderson start a bike shop, made the claim in a brief filed in state district court. The brief does not say whether Anderson saw Armstrong take any banned substances.

    Armstrong, who has won a record six consecutive Tours, has maintained that he is drug-free. The cancer survivor frequently notes he is one of the most drug-tested athletes in the world.

    A representative for Armstrong referred all questions to the cyclist's attorney, Timothy Herman, who declined immediate comment because he hasn't seen the brief. Armstrong is in Europe, where he finished 24th at the Paris-Camembert race Tuesday.

    Anderson, who says he had a key to Armstrong's apartment in Girona, Spain, alleges he was cleaning the bathroom in "early 2004" when he found a white box labeled "like any other prescription drug" but that did not have a doctor's prescription attached.

    Written on the box was the trademark name "Androstenine, or something very close to this," Anderson said.

    "He went to the computer, looked it up on the WADA or USADA Web site(s), and confirmed that what he had found was an androgen, a listed banned substance," Anderson's court brief states, referring to the World Anti-Doping Agency and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

    Anderson said he put the box back where he found it. Fearing he would be fired, he said he did not confront Armstrong about it. He said he looked for the box again after Armstrong left Girona to train in the Canary Islands, but didn't find it.

    "He was torn about what to do. He's an honest guy opposed to doping in sports," said Anderson's attorney, Hal Gillespie. "(But) he was sure that if he confronted, he would be fired. He's got a wife and young child, no money and a long way from home."

    Gillespie said Anderson did not see Armstrong taking any steroids or other banned substances.

    Anderson's brief also said he and Armstrong had a discussion in 2004 about cyclists who dope and claimed Armstrong told him, "Everyone does it."

    Gillespie said that conversation took place before Anderson allegedly found the steroid. The lawyer also said he plans to depose Armstrong.

    Anderson said he believes Armstrong knew about the alleged discovery because their relationship began to deteriorate almost immediately.

    Anderson said he was working as a mechanic at a local bike store when he met Armstrong more than four years ago. They became friends, often riding together, and Anderson regularly worked on Armstrong's bikes before becoming his personal assistant in November 2002.

    Anderson said he was paid about $3,000 a month for duties that ranged from building bike trails on Armstrong's Hill Country property to doing his grocery shopping in Spain. He says he developed a close relationship with Armstrong and his family.

    Anderson said he was fired in November 2004 after asking for, and getting, a $500 a month raise. He said Armstrong's representatives offered him a severance package totaling $7,000.

    Armstrong and his personal service company, Luke David LLC, sued Anderson about a month later, claiming Anderson demanded Armstrong pay him $500,000, give him a signed Tour de France jersey and future endorsements to help him set up his own bike shop.

    Anderson countersued, accusing the cyclist of fraud, breach of contract and causing him severe emotional distress. Anderson says an e-mail Armstrong sent to offer him the job promised the help and should be considered a binding contract.

    Anderson said Armstrong also demanded he sign a confidentiality agreement that would have held him liable for up to $1 million in damages.

    Thursday's filing was because the court wanted more details in support of Anderson's claim.


    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/more/03/31/bc.cyc.armstrong.lawsuit.ap/index.html?cnn=yes


    -------------


    Please don't shoot the messenger. Take it for what it's worth...
     
    #1 AroundTheWorld, Mar 31, 2005
  2. Rocketman95

    Rocketman95 Hangout Boy

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    Wow, he doesn't have an axe to grind with Armstrong or anything. :rolleyes:
     
    #2 Rocketman95, Mar 31, 2005
  3. SamFisher

    SamFisher Member

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    I'd be shocked if Armstrong was clean at this point. The evidence is circumstantial of course but it is a lot more than just this.

    I don't really care though - all cyclists do it. It's like faster bikes or other technology
     
    #3 SamFisher, Mar 31, 2005
  4. RocketFan007

    RocketFan007 Member

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    I'd be pretty surprised if anyone in cycling was clean.
     
    #4 RocketFan007, Mar 31, 2005
  5. KingCheetah

    KingCheetah Atomic Playboy
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    "Anderson says an e-mail Armstrong sent to offer him the job promised the help and should be considered a binding contract."
    _________

    Um, yeah...
     
    #5 KingCheetah, Mar 31, 2005
  6. KingCheetah

    KingCheetah Atomic Playboy
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    I would be shocked if he was ~ they will be watching him like a hawk. If he does get tagged for cheating at this point when he could have retired with 6 wins unscathed he is a serious idiot. But let's not get ahead of ourselves...
     
    #6 KingCheetah, Mar 31, 2005
  7. PhiSlammaJamma

    PhiSlammaJamma Member

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    He's gotta be clean. Too much to lose. I just don't see it. They've had testing for a long time now. As far as the dude, I agree, they keep piling on with witnesses who have not been given the hand of god treatment by armstrong. Ex-wives, Fired secretaries, and a guy burned on a business deal. Please. Those aren't witnesses. They are people who have a grudge to burn. If you give me a witness who has nothing to gain, and nothing to lose, I might listen. Otherwise need evidence.
     
    #7 PhiSlammaJamma, Mar 31, 2005
  8. Band Geek Mobster

    Band Geek Mobster Member

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    This guy said he was fired because Armstrong found out the dude saw his steroids. Talk about reverse logic, lets fire the guy so he will definitely blow the whistle instead of keeping him pacified in the entourage.
     
    #8 Band Geek Mobster, Mar 31, 2005
  9. SamCassell

    SamCassell Member

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    A post from SJC on Lance Armstrong cheating? That's never happened before!!!
     
    #9 SamCassell, Mar 31, 2005
  10. SamFisher

    SamFisher Member

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    The thing that makes me skeptical is his italian doctor who has been very closely linked to dopers.
     
    #10 SamFisher, Mar 31, 2005
  11. KingCheetah

    KingCheetah Atomic Playboy
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    That should say -- I would be shocked if he wasn't clean...
     
    #11 KingCheetah, Mar 31, 2005
  12. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    What bugs me is the way the U.S. media protects this guy and they have had their witch hunt against Bonds for 4 years now. I really don't care if Armstrong is doping or not, I don't follow cycling but I do find it funny that the media claims they really don't understand why Bonds thinks they are trying to bring him down when they take it personally when the Europeans go after Armstrong.
     
    #12 pgabriel, Mar 31, 2005
  13. bnb

    bnb Member

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    welll...he's a good guy to the press, where bonds is not. he has been subject to lots and lots of drug testing, bonds has not....he's one of 'ours' being attacked by the Euro's (where he competes as an American against non-Americans, bonds is another bball player --no nationalistic baggage...

    and add to it no real credible claims against him...and continued passing of all the drug tests.

    But i'm with Sam here. His Italian doctor friend isn't a good sign. Plus his absolute dominance at the Tour de France over a field that's ripe with dopers....yet...until they got something better than an upset business partners recollection about what he may have found in the garbage a year ago...they should let it go.
     
    #13 bnb, Mar 31, 2005
  14. Surfguy

    Surfguy Member

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    Bah...who cares what this former assistant with no axe to grind(lol) says? He wasn't even sure on the spelling so how can he be believed? It's all circumstantial BS and would have never come up had he not felt Armstrong owed him something that he didn't deliver on. This assistant guy is a whimp in my book. What a putz!

    Yea...yea...that doesn't mean he's lying. It just means he's an a-hole. LOL

    This has done nothing to convince anyone of anything other than this guy has it in for Armstrong due to a falling out.
     
    #14 Surfguy, Mar 31, 2005
  15. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    Unfortunately this is the biggest reason and while I understand we can't expect these guys to put aside their feelings, they are the media and they have a responsibility to be fair.
     
    #15 pgabriel, Mar 31, 2005
  16. bnb

    bnb Member

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    True that...PG...but i think the bigger reason is he's an American competing internationally...sort of like how some of us are more accepting of a Rocket players actions, then those of another team

    And the continued passing of drug tests. I have my doubts as to how effective they are...but it's tougher to accuse when he can point to his tests. With bond's we're expected to accept his word.
     
    #16 bnb, Mar 31, 2005
  17. KingCheetah

    KingCheetah Atomic Playboy
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    [​IMG]

    "Written on the box was the trademark name "Androstenine, or something very close to this," Anderson said."
     
    #17 KingCheetah, Mar 31, 2005
  18. rudager

    rudager Member

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    Seriously. Why don't they just put engines on the things and get it over with?
     
    #18 rudager, Mar 31, 2005
  19. Rocket River

    Rocket River Member

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    it always AFTER they get off the GRAVY trian
    that they become all righteous

    Rocket River
     
    #19 Rocket River, Mar 31, 2005
  20. s land balla

    s land balla Member

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    anyone know which apartment complex lance armstrong lives at here in austin?
     
    #20 s land balla, Mar 31, 2005
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