Armstrong Injury Puts Tour in Doubt

Cyclist fractured collarbone yesterday in crash

(NEWSER) - Despite breaking his collarbone in a crash yesterday, Lance Armstrong should be able to ride in both the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, his team manager said. “A broken collarbone in the month of March does not at all compromise the start of the Tour de France or your performance in the Tour de France,” Johan Bruyneel noted, saying Armstrong’s riding in the Giro is also “perfectly possible," ESPN reports. More»

(NEWSER) - Lance Armstrong will race in the three-week Giro d’Italia for the first time next year, but a return visit to the Tour de France is in doubt, the Telegraph reports. Armstrong, recently out of retirement, has historically clashed with Tour management, and his team was banned from this year’s race for doping-related issues. Still, Armstrong said he would love to race in France again, “but in a serene situation.” More»

Alberto Contador to be banned from racing for 2 years: appeals court

(NEWSER) - Three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador has been found guilty of doping during his 2010 victory, prompting a two-year ban on racing. The Spanish cyclist will also likely lose his title from that year—in addition, perhaps, to seeing all his racing wins in 2011 annulled. Contador tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug clenbuterol during the Tour in 2010; he blamed it on a tainted steak he had eaten. More»

Armstrong's defense asks for on-air apology for dope story

(AP) - Steadfast in his innocence, Lance Armstrong’s attorneys are demanding an on-air apology from 60 Minutes after the head of Switzerland's anti-doping laboratory denied allegations that the cyclist tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs at the 2001 Tour de Suisse. Armstrong’s lawyer said the May 22 segment was built on a series of falsehoods, and accused the CBS show of sloppy journalism, in a letter sent today to the executive producer for 60 Minutes. "In the cold light of morning your story was either extraordinarily shoddy, to the point of being reckless and unprofessional, or a vicious hit-and-run job," the lawyer wrote. "In either case, a categorical on-air apology is required." More»

Tyler Hamilton says he witnessed champ inject EPO

(NEWSER) - Another former teammate says he witnessed cycling champ Lance Armstrong use banned substances. Tyler Hamilton, who raced alongside Armstrong in the Tour de France for three seasons, told CBS ' 60 Minutes that he saw his teammate inject himself with EPO, a drug that raises endurance by boosting the number of red blood cells in the body. More»