L.A. Times Investigates Documents In Armstrong/SCA Case

SCA Case Produces Doping Allegations Against Armstrong

Testimony in the legal dispute between SCA Promotions and Lance Armstrong “provides some of the most serious doping allegations to date and the first on-the-record outlines of a possible case” against him, according to an extensive investigation by Alan Abrahamson of the L.A. TIMES. Accusations regarding Armstrong’s alleged use of EPO contained in a hearing record include those made by anti-doping researcher Michael Ashenden — who was retained by SCA Promotions — Italian doctor Michele Ferrari, retired cyclist Greg LeMond, former teammates Stephen Swart and Frankie Andreu and his wife, Betsy Andreu. But Armstrong denied all allegations, and Dr. Craig Nichols, who supervised Armstrong’s cancer care, said in an affidavit that he had “‘no recollection’ of any declaration of prior EPO use by Armstrong,” as asserted by Betsy Andreu. SCA had agreed to pay a $5M bonus to Armstrong if he won the ’04 Tour de France, but “resisted making the payment after allegations of doping surfaced that summer.” The company in February agreed to pay the figure, plus interest and legal costs. Before the settlement, arbitration judges ruled that SCA “was acting as an insurer — a role that exposed it to potential triple damages, at least $15[M], if it lost the suit” (L.A. TIMES, 7/9). View the complete story.