In the fiercely competitive world of cycling, the pursuit of victory can often drive athletes to adopt unscrupulous measures to get ahead. Lance Armstrong, the seven-time winner of the Tour de France, had once commanded respect and admiration. However, the cycling champion fell prey to the bait and engaged himself in a pervasive doping scandal in 2012. 

Armstrong had recently appeared on comedian Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast. During the episode, in candid and revealing conversation, the cyclist unearthed the tales of the calculated risks he took and delved deep into the dark arts of evading drug tests. 

Armstrong provides detailed explanation of drug test evasion

It was in the podcast that Armstrong recounted his encounter with renowned filmmaker Bryan Fogel. He proposed making a documentary named “Icarus” that would expose the truth about doping. While Armstrong had initially been hesitant to be a part of Fogel’s move to replicate the alleged drug regimens, calling it a bad idea, the cyclist answered Maher’s queries. 

 

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In the Spotify podcast, Armstrong confirmed whether it is possible for an athlete to evade drug tests, “Yes, you can. But… it’s not so much masking. In a sense, you would foil the system, but what I always said—and I’m not trying to justify what I ever said as something I would want to repeat—but one of the lines was, ‘I’ve been tested 500 times and I’ve never failed a drug test.’” 

He contended that the claim of him passing the 500 drug test was technically correct since he only used substances that had short half-lives. The cyclist, instead of focusing on traditional masking agents, had adhered to the act of “foiling the system”. 

A closer look at the doping substance

The one-on-one conversation encouraged Armstrong to reveal the tactics he followed as he boasted a four-hour half-life rule with the use of substances like erythropoietin (EPO), “With a four-hour half-life, you can just do the math.” It was the EPO that evolved to play a pivotal during Armstrong’s doping strategy. Often referred to as “rocket fuel,” according to the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) leads to an increase in red blood cell mass. 

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As a result of this, oxygen transport to muscles is also enhanced, which in turn has a significant impact on the stamina and performance of cyclists. However, since the drug had a four-hour half-life, it minimized the risk of detection on being strategically consumed. However, on irresponsible usage, there are potential side effects of the drug that increase the risk of heart disease and autoimmune diseases.

Even though Lance Armstrong’s illustrious career had been tainted by a doping scandal, through the podcast, he has evolved with the truth, even if it involved reminiscing about his hard times. He delved into providing the intricate strategies employed by athletes, thereby delivering a clearer picture of the integrity of competitive athletics.

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