According to the CBS show “60 Minutes”, at least four of Lance Armstrong’s former teammates, including his close friend George Hincapie, have told federal authorities that they have used banned substances. All three have said they saw Armstrong also used banned substances.
CBS reports that Hincapie testified that both himself and Armstrong supplied each other with EPO, a banned endurance boosting substance, and also admitted to using testosterone.
Armstrong’s former teammates Frankie Andreu, Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton have all pointed the finger at the Texan, but Andreu has been fingered by Armstrong as having sour grapes, and the other two suffer from credibility issues. Hincapie, however, is a highly respected rider and would be seen as a man with “something to lose” for coming forward. He also has not tested positive for EPO or testosterone, the main defense of Armstrong. Hincapie also represents the only rider that rode alongside Armstrong in each of his seven Tour de France victories.
Hincapie has declined to be interviewed, citing the ongoing federal investigation led by Jeff Novitsky, but used Twitter say that he hadn’t spoken to “60 minutes” but he refused to confirm or deny there is truth to their claims.
“I can confirm to you I never spoke with “60 Minutes.”, he Tweeted. “I have no idea where they got their information. As I’ve said in the past, I continue to be disappointed that people are talking about the past in cycling instead of the future. As for the substance of anything in the “60 Minutes” story, I cannot comment on anything relating to the ongoing investigation.”
Armstrong continues to vigorously maintain his innocense.