Ferrari: Armstrong didn't need to dope

More sports January 24, 2013

Ferrari: Armstrong didn't need to dope

MILAN (AP) — Lance Armstrong's former doctor Michele Ferrari says the disgraced American cyclist could have been just as successful without doping.

Armstrong said in last week's interview with Oprah Winfrey that winning seven Tour de France titles would have been impossible without banned drugs. However, on Ferrari's website Tuesday, the Italian doctor wrote "I think Lance is wrong."

Ferrari describes the effects of testosterone, EPO and blood transfusions, and says that had Armstrong taken testosterone in the manner and amount described by his former teammates, it would have simply had a "placebo effect."

He adds "Armstrong would have achieved the same level of performance without resorting to doping, also thanks to his talent which was far superior to the rivals of his era." Ferrari has been banned for life from the sport.

Subjects
- Sports,
- Doping,
- Men's cycling,
- Cycling
People
Locations
- Italy,
- Western Europe,
- Europe

Related Headlines

Old Armstrong foe Simeoni unmoved by admission
Few cyclists were more bullied by Lance Armstrong than Filippo Simeoni. The now-retired Italian rider was completely marginalized from the sport after speaking to authorities ...
Armstrong's enemies find vindication, sadness
First shunned, then vilified by Lance Armstrong, Mike Anderson had to move to the other side of the world to get his life back. Now running a bike shop outside of Wellington, ...
IOC VP: Armstrong must tell 'whole truth'
Lance Armstrong's doping confession to Oprah Winfrey was "too little, too late" and failed to provide any new information that will help clean up the sport he tarnished ...
Bordry says UCI should not oversee Tour tests
The former head of the French Anti-Doping Agency thinks cycling's governing body should no longer be involved with drug-testing at the Tour de France until it has fully ...