October 20, 2006 – Seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has been making the news a lot lately and most of it isn’t good.

A book entitled L. A. Confidential by Pierre Ballester and David Walsh chronicles the controversy surrounding Armstrong and his alleged doping. According to legend, Armstrong lost 5 to 10 kg following his battle with testicular cancer and he bounced back with an exceptional weight-to-strength ratio, combined with a greatly improved pulmonary (lung) function, thus explaining how he won seven straight Tours.

The authors cite Australian Michael Ashenden – considered the “father” of EPO blood tests – who dismisses the Armstrong legend. Ashenden, who has had access to some of Armstrong’s medical records, noted that the cyclist’s weight actually increased from 78,9 kg to 79,7 kg from 1992 to 1999, the year that he won the first of seven victories. During about the same time, his pulmonary function (VO2 Max) decreased from 81.2 to 71.5. “There can be no possible doubt, he has been doping.”

A recent Cyclingnews.com article cites a L’Equipe interview with Armstrong’s former team-mate, Frankie Andreu. L’Equipe quotes Andreu as recounting a conversation with Jon Vaughters, current director of development squad TIAA-Cref team, explaining how the former US Postal Team gave its cyclists red blood infusions while avoiding race controls. “It (was) transported on a motorbike, in frozen cases. Floyd has photos of all of that.”

In other news, rumours are circulating of a budding relationship between actress Paris Hilton and Armstrong. The two have been seen many times together.