March 31, 2005 – The Associated Press has reported that Mike Anderson, the former personal assistant to Lance Armstrong, has said in court papers filed on Thursday that he discovered a banned substance in the six-time Tour de France winner’s apartment early last year.

Anderson, who was Armstrong’s personal assistant from 2002 until late last year, alleges that he was cleaning Armstrong’s apartment in Girona, Spain early last year when he found a white box with a normal label but no prescription sticker. According to Andersen, the box was marked “Androstenine” and, cross-referencing the name with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list, confirmed it was a banned substance. Androstenine, or “andro”, is an androgen, which has an anabolic effect when processed by the body.

Anderson and Armstrong are involved in a lawsuit, where Armstrong’s personal service company has sued Andersen for various demands and Anderson has countersued, claiming that Armstrong made promises to help him set up his own bike shop. The deposition was filed today in district court in Austin, Texas in support of Anderson’s claim.

According to AP, a representative for Armstrong referred all questions
to the cyclist’s attorney, Timothy Herman, who declined immediate
comment because he hasn’t seen the brief.

Anderson’s brief also said he and Armstrong had a discussion in 2004 about cyclists who dope, and claimed Armstrong told him, “Everyone does it.”

The full story from Associated Press is available at:

http://msn.foxsports.com/cycling/story/3505246