PARIS, 29 June 2004 — Lance Armstrong’s appeal against a ruling denying him the right to insert a denial against accusations of doping published in a book released last week will be heard tomorrow — three days before he races in the Tour de France.
The five-time Tour de France winner’s lawyer Christian Charriere-Bournazel has taken action over the book “L.A. Confidential: The Secrets of Lance Armstrong” by award-winning Sunday Times journalist David Walsh and Pierre Ballester, a cycling specialist formerly with French sports daily L’Equipe, which alleges he used banned drugs.
The book focuses on statements attributed to Emma O’Reilly, a physiotherapist who worked with Armstrong from 1998-2000. O’Reilly claims Armstrong used the banned blood booster EPO.
During a hearing last Friday, Armstrong’s lawyers slammed the book as “sensationalist” and an attack on the rider’s character.
But lawyers acting on behalf of French publishers La Martiniere defended the book and argued that finding in favor of the plaintiff would signal the end of investigative journalism.
O’Reilly alleges that Armstrong asked her to dispose of bags with syringes after the 1998 Tour of Holland and that in May 1999, as Armstrong trained in the Pyrenees, she was asked to drive to Spain to pick up drugs which she handed to Armstrong in a parking lot.
O’Reilly claims in the book Armstrong asked her to use makeup to mask syringe marks on his arm at a Tour de France medical checkup in 1999. Armstrong, a Texan, has never tested positive for banned substances and has always strenuously denied taking any such products.
Millar Ruled Out of Tour
World time trial champion David Millar of Britain has been barred from racing in the Tour de France which starts on Saturday after being implicated in a doping investigation.
Tour de France director Jean-Marie Blanc said Millar’s Cofidis team had accepted the decision.
“They have confirmed they will not enter any rider implicated in legal proceedings or a police enquiry,” he added.
Millar was detained 48 hours last week over allegations he had used the banned blood booster erythropoietin (EPO).
The 27-year-old was expected to be charged with illegal possession of toxic products this week.
He was second to Australian Bradley McGee in last year’s Tour prologue.
Millar’s Cofidis team has been under investigation since January when seven riders and officials were charged with doping offenses. Millar, who has never failed a drugs test, had denied the accusations.
The Scot might now be dropped by the British Olympic team for Athens where he had hoped to race in both the road race and time trial and in the individual pursuit track event.
