In perhaps the least shocking news of the 21st century, turns out Lance Armstrong lied in what he billed as his ‘come clean’ interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Deadspin reported the news of Armstrong’s less than honest interview to Mrs. Winfrey. Travis Tygart, the head of the USADA and also, the judge and jury on the Armstrong trial has spoken out against Armstrong. In the much anticipated interview Armstrong told Oprah that he did not dope during the 2009, 2010 Tour de France, but now Tygart has come out to say that blood tests “solidly refute” Armstrong’s claim.
On this week’s 60 Minutes episode Tygart told CBS that Armstrong’s main motiviation for lying was most likely because of the statue of limitations for fraud connected to the Tour de France stints, which hasn’t expired. Armstrong is just 10 days away from being banned from the sport of cycling for life, if he doesn’t not really come clean to Tygart.
To add insult to injury an aide to former California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger has filed a class-action suit against Armstrong because of the books of his they purchased and were fraudulently inspired by.
The lawsuit seeks class-action status on behalf of all readers who felt misled by Armstrong’s denials of drug use in “It’s Not About The Bike,” published in 2000, and “Every Second Counts,” published three years later.
The lawsuit filed Tuesday says Stutzman met Armstrong when the cyclist visited with Schwarzenegger.
“At that time, Stutzman thanked Defendant Armstrong for writing his book and told him it was very inspiring and that he had recommended it to friends who were fighting cancer,” the suit says. “In response, Armstrong thanked Stutzman.”
I’m not sure if it’s too early to vote Lance Armstrong in as a candidate for the ‘person having worst 2013’ award. But, these were self-inflicted wounds, and Armstrong will have to deal with what will surely be just the very beginning of a long and costly backlash.
Armstrong crafted his identity on a lie, and became a beloved sports icon globally, this is just the first chapter in many still to come.