Armstrong’s former teammates took drugs

Two of Lance Armstrong's teammates in the 1999 Tour de France admitted taking the banned performance-enhancing substance EPO in preparing for that race, the New York Times reported yesterday.

In a story posted on its website, the newspaper said Frankie Andreu, a retired captain of the US Postal Service team, and another rider who did not want his name disclosed both admitted wrongdoings in interviews with the Times.

“Everybody's afraid to talk because they don't want to implicate themselves but there are guys out there who love the sport and who hate doping. They are the guys who have to speak up if the sport is going to survive,” Andreu said.

The admissions darken Armstrong's first Tour de France triumph and come in the wake of Armstrong fighting off claims that an updated test of a 1999 sample applied by a French laboratory showed the US cycling star was positive.

“There's always going to be the guy who denies and denies that he's ever used something,” Andreu said. “Nobody really knows what that guy is really doing when he goes home and closes the door.”

Armstrong, who turns 35 next week, began a run of seven Tour triumphs in a row in 1999 before retiring last year. American Floyd Landis won last July's Tour but tested positive and is fighting to clear his name.

Armstrong and Landis have denied taking any performance-enhancing substances.

Armstrong made an amazing recovery from life-threatening cancer to become the greatest champion in Tour history and a symbol of hope for those with cancer but he has fought numerous doping allegations during his reign.

Andreu and his unidentified team mate told the newspaper they never saw Armstrong take any banned substance.

Neither man ever failed a test for performance-enhancing drugs, they told the Times, casting doubt upon whether any negative test from 1999 could be considered proof that any rider was not a dope cheat. – AFP

FedEx seals world No 1 spot

Roger Federer will end the year as world number one for the third time in a row after clinching a hat-trick of US Open titles, the ATP announced on Monday.

The 25-year-old Swiss, who beat American Andy Roddick 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 for his ninth career grand slam on Sunday, has won eight titles so far this season, compiling a formidable 70-5 record.

His Flushing Meadows victory followed his titles at the Australian Open and at Wimbledon. He also reached the final of the French Open, losing to Spain's Rafael Nadal.

Federer is only the fifth player since the ATP rankings began in 1973 to be year-end number one three successive times. – Reuters

Alonso rips into Schumacher

Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso has launched a scathing attack on Michael Schumacher following the German driver's announcement that he will retire at the end of the season.

The 25-year-old Spaniard accused seven-time world champion Schumacher of being the most unsporting driver in the history of the sport.

He also compared Schumacher's departure unfavourably with that of French footballer Zinedine Zidane whose last act before retiring was to be sent off for headbutting Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the chest during the World Cup final.

“Zidane retired with more glory that Schumacher,” Alonso was quoted as telling Radio Marca on Monday.

“Michael is the most unsporting driver with the largest number of sanctions in the history of Formula One.

“That doesn't take away from the fact that he has been the best driver and it has been an honour and pleasure to battle against him.

“Everyone has their time and you have to respect his decision. Things will be more equal now.”

Alonso also attacked what he saw as institutional bias in favour of Schumacher and his Ferrari team.

“In Formula One there are commercial and political interests,” he said.

“We are talking about the most successful driver in history and a little bit of help has never gone amiss. Quite often they go over the line of what is acceptable and it is inexplicable.”

Alonso was demoted five places to 10th on Sunday's Italian Grand Prix starting grid after stewards ruled that the Spaniard had impeded Ferrari's Brazilian Felipe Massa.

The Renault driver, who was adamant he had not blocked Massa, failed to finish the race because of an engine failure and his championship lead over Schumacher was slashed from 12 points to two after the German won the race.

“No one is going to believe the penalty I was given for a long time to come,” Alonso said.

“The excuse they gave was far from honest ... It isn't good for our sport.

“Sometimes you think about not racing, but you get over that quickly enough and put on you helmet. I was 100% convinced that no matter where I started I could earn some points and stay ahead.

“One thing I am clear about, though, is that he who laughs last, laughs longest.

“Anyone can win the remaining races and if we get things right in two of the three races that are left the world championship will be ours.” – Reuters