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Armstrong's Downfall Had Surprising Beginning

Blame the 'tattooed guy' who got busted and talked

By Liam Carnahan,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 18, 2012 1:08 PM CDT

(Newser) – When professional cyclist and tattoo artist Kayle Leogrande was busted for doping, he never imagined it would lead to the downfall of one of the most celebrated bikers of all time. But that's pretty much what happened, explains the New York Times. The heavily tatted biker was an aspiring cyclist as a teen, but took a break—until he was inspired by Armstrong in the 2004 Tour de France. He signed on with a pro team and soon discovered that doping was ubiquitous in the sport. He joined in.

Leogrande got suspended (thanks to his own confession, not a failed test), in 2008. When he left behind drugs in the freezer of an old apartment, his landlord called the feds, who questioned Leogrande about the sport in general and Armstrong in particular. Asked if he thought Armstrong doped, he recalls responding, "If you were a rider at that level, what would you do?" It wasn't long before the FDA started interviewing Armstrong's teammates. Read the full story here.

This April 1, 2012, file photo shows seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong during a news conference.
This April 1, 2012, file photo shows seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong during a news conference.   (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Michael Paulsen, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 19 comments
JT119
Oct 21, 2012 7:44 PM CDT
Give the guy a break, he used what was available to win, like lots of people are going to vote for romney and he is using lies to win whats the difference,romney winning on lies is  more detrimental to the country than this guy using illegal substance.
hydrox7
Oct 19, 2012 12:10 AM CDT
As probably one of the few that has read all 202 pages of the USADA report, I will say this:  while there is much innuendo and BS in the report that any skillful lawyer could dismantle; there is adequate evidence to establish to at least a clear and convincing standard that Armstrong doped.  Without more, there isn't enough to prove enough to get a criminal conviction, but it's pretty inescapable that he doped.  The unfortunate thing is that he had denied it to the point where I doubt he can now confess and rehabilitate himself.  Surely his oft reported political ambitions are toast.  As is nearly uniformly the case, it's not the crime that kills, it's the cover up.  Sad really.  I think people would've respected him if he'd just owned up to it--no one would've denied the competitive need to keep a level playing field.  Now, he just seems like a liar too proud of his own bullshit.
B-Diddy
Oct 18, 2012 3:24 PM CDT
FUCKING AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I always Knew he was a Piece of Fucking SHIT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

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