LANCE ARMSTRONG’S FORMER team-mate Tyler Hamilton believes the disgraced former champion’s doping confession was a ‘huge first step.’
Hamilton, a fellow confessed drug cheat on the Armstrong’s tainted US Postal Service team, was one of the key members who contributed to the 1000-page reasoned dossier that saw the fallen cycling star stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned for life.
And while many questioned the legitimacy and timing of Armstrong’s admission of guilt, Hamilton felt his responses were genuine.
“I think it’s a huge, huge first step for Lance Armstrong,” Hamilton said.
“For a lot of people, it’s raw. I’ve known about it for a long time, since 1998. Big first step.
“You can tell, it’s real. He’s very emotional and he’s definitely sorry. I don’t know. I think it’s going to be a hard next few weeks for him, next few months, years.
“He did the right thing, finally. And it’s never too late to tell the truth.”
Hamilton was one of 11 former team-mates to testify against Armstrong to the US Anti-Doping Agency, with some of the most damaging evidence coming from Levi Leipheimer, stripped Tour winner Floyd Landis and loyal lieutenant George Hincapie.
After years of denials and attacks against his detractors, Armstrong finally confessed to having taken performance-enhancing drugs, describing himself as ‘deeply flawed’ and a ‘bully’.
Hamilton, who himself meddled with the truth before confessing to doping in 2011 after twice being banned, believed the sincerity of Armstrong’s initial apology but said the future would tell the real tale.
“It’s really what happens next, you know. The proof is in the pudding,” he said.
Despite Armstrong declaring he needed to apologise to ‘a lot of people’, Hamilton said he had not heard from him nor did he expect a call.
“He needs to apologise to a lot of other people before he apologises to me,” he said.
Load of ****. Not enough emphasis on the destruction of innocent people’s character. Lowest form of human. Everyone doped in cycling but not everyone was as vindictive and soul-less as this complete ******.
Exactly! Some of those dopers came clean and got justified sanctions. Armstrong got caught, yet he still thinks his lifetime ban was more harsh than the 6 month bans others got.
Smell of bullsh1t.
LA is devious, twisted and is not wired like the majority of us. A performer, the artful dodger! This guy would not know how to be honest and genuine. He should be dismissed out of hand. And maybe the best thing for us (not him), would be to forgive, forget and move on. Why, because the constant debate is what he wants and needs to ramp up the media gravy train, this his easiest way out. Cut him off the media life support now, then he might realise true remorse!
And he is any different?he benefited from it to I don’t see him giving back any prize money
The whole lot of them need to apologise, including Hamilton, for adding to the destruction of an otherwise great sport.
Doping in cycling has been proven since 1903…. There has been big doing stories every few years and people just forget about them. Lance didn’t do anything to cycling that hasn’t been done before
He only got emotional at this stage ” i got the call from my sponsors to say they were out…. That was a $75 million day”
No he got emotional when he told his son to stop defending him.
He said the charity was the most humbling moment.
I saw that bit but got the feeling he was playing to the cameras, pausing at the right time etc. Using the story of his son to generate sympathy
If he knew about it since 98, why didn’t he weigh in behind those who were accusing LA then?? Coward.
He is sorry he got caught.
People wil never be happy not matter wat lance says or does. He didn’t deserve to be treated any different to any other doper. If people who he done wrong against like reilly and walsh can say they could forgive him then pretty much every one else should stop the hatred. War criminals dont get treated like this. And he still did more for charity and fighting cancer then all of us.
And what about the lives ruined through his bullying? They are worth less than cancer patients I suppose? Armstrong is pure a psychopath and emotionally blind to the feelings of those around him. Anyone who seriously believes his sorrow is a SUCKER. These psychoapathic lizards in society feed from your foolishness.
the guy should be in prision . think of the cyclist whom he deprived of winning etc – the money and prestige involved .
Not all cyclist took drugs nor all footballers etc .
“You can tell, it’s real.”
Speak for yourself, thicko. I can’t remember anything more transparent.
With all of this talk about Armstrong taking drugs, people will now question whether he did actually walk on the moon !
What are you on about, he wasnt the first man on the moon.
Apollo Creed was.
Very narrow minded people here
Read Kimmage in the sindo, sports p8. Sums it up wonderfully.
Is it time to listen to David Walsh about Stephen Roche now, or would be unpatriotic?
Why are we even discussing this??? He’s a fraud!! A criminal!! Make him give the money back and throw him in jail
I watched this last night & the night before. Have to say I wouldn’t like him & I’d have no respect for him but I believe he was being truthful in his interview. But then again he is an rather well versed liar I suppose….
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