Winning gold for cycling in the 2004 Olympics, Tyler Hamilton was a hero before his doping scandal. After failing doping tests in 2004, Tyler was banned from the sport for two years. In an interview with ABC news in 2012, Tyler made explosive revelations about how he and Lance Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs in cycling competitions.
Both Lance Armstrong and Tyler Hamilton were part of the same cycling team for the 2001 Tour de France. Later, both cyclists turned into rivals in the Tour De France after 2002. Lance Armstrong admitted to doping and using PEDs after Tyler, who confessed in 2004. In an interview with ABC news in 2012, Hamilton made a shocking confession about him and Armstrong doping.
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Tyler Hamilton’s surprising revelations about Lance Armstrong
“We were taking EPO which helps boost your hematocrit and hemoglobin”, Tyler disclosed about Armstrong and his doping. EPO or erythropoietin is a banned substance in cycling, which helps to breathe better and enhances performance. He also said that in 2000, he did blood doping with Lance and another teammate. Hamilton also narrated how he saw Armstrong doping for the first time in 1999.
In the interview, he further opened up about how he wanted to keep it a secret forever. However, he was forced to testify in a federal case where he had to reveal everything he knew about doping.
Hamilton expressed how he felt better after telling the truth after lying for so long. “I lied to my parents, to my brother, my sister and my friends, coworkers…”, Hamilton admitted. He also spoke about how a federal investigator named Jeff Novitzky contacted him, after which he had no other option but to tell the truth.
Read More: “It Was an Eye Opening Experience”: Lance Armstrong Recalls His First Ever Trip Down the PED Lane
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In the interview, there was another shocking revelation about how the team’s doctors would assist them in taking performance-enhancing drugs. “They would tell you how much you could take and how far from the race you could take”, he remarked.
What is the former cyclist doing at present?
Tyler Hamilton, at present, is the managing director for investor relations at the Black Swift Group. He also provides coaching to cycling athletes and offers customized training programs.
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The shocking revelations made by Tyler Hamilton will help raise more awareness about doping in the future. As cycling fans, we hope that stricter laws will help to ensure that there are no doping incidents in the future.
