My quick and dirty translation of the beginning of this article:
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The scene takes place October 28 1996 at the Indianapolis University Hospital (Indiana, US). Lance Armstrong has just undergone brain surgery following metastasized testicular cancer. In preparation of post-operative protocol/care/procedures, a doctor asks the American (1993 road world champion, but not yet winner of the Tour de France) if he has ever taken doping substances. The Texan replies in the affirmative and lists them: EPO, growth hormone, anabolic steroids, and testosterone.
This dark episode of the seven-time Tour de France winner’s life is told in detail by Betsy Andreu, the wife of the former American cyclist and former best friend of Lance Armstrong in legal proceedings (arbitrage) concerning the Texan and his insurance company, SCA promotions.
“[The doctor] started asking him ordinary questions. I don’t remember. And all of a sudden, bam!, have you ever taken doping substances? He answered yes. [The doctor] asked which ones. And Lance said, EPO, growth hormones, cortisone, steroids, testosterone,” explained Betsy Andreu in January 17th sworn testimony before a Dallas courtroom obtained by Le Monde.
Like his wife, Frankie Andeu was also with Lance Armstrong on October 28, 1996. During his testimony before the same court on October 25, 2005, the Texan’s former US Postal teammate said the same thing. “I don’t know how the doctor formulated his question, but the answer was that he had taken EPO, testosterone, growth hormones and cortisone,” indicated Frankie Andreu in his sworn testimony before a court in Dallas Le Monde has learned.
A third person present at the hospital, Stephanie McIlvain, the cyclist’s friend and employee of Armstrong’s sponsor Oakley, gave her version before the court in Dallas on November 14, 2005. She denied having heard Lance Armstrong admit to a doctor that he had taken illegal substances.
Yet, during a September 21, 2004, telephone conversation with Greg LeMond, Stephanie McIlvain had said that if called to testify, she would repeat what she had heard on October 26, 1996 in the Indianapolis hospital. The three-time Tour winner recorded the conversation. In that conversation, Stephanie McIlvain told Lemond“If I’m called, I’ll do it (…). Because I’m not going to lie. You know, I was in that room, I heard.” The tape was introduced as evidence.
Three other people were with Lance Armstrong on October 28, 1996: his then girlfriend, Lisa Sheilds; Chris Carmichael, his first trainer; and the latter’s wife, Paige. None of the three were called to testify by Armstrong’s lawyer, nor were the operating physicians, Craig Nichols and Scott Shapiro.
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