Steffen Kjaergaard, a retired professional cyclist from Norway, couldn’t watch all of Lance Armstrong’s teammates confess to doping without joining the party. Kjaergaard admitted using erythropoietin (EPO) and cortico-steroids during his time as a domestique with the United States Postal Service pro cycling team in 2000 and 2001.
“The reason that I am coming forth now is that I have had a big problem with my own conscience,” Kjaergaard said. “I have long thought that it was best for cycling as a sport that I took this [secret] to the grave. But the last weeks have made me change course for my own sake and tell the truth.”
Lance Armstrong won seven consecutive Tour de France races between the years 1999 and 2005. However, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) officially stripped the American cyclist of all seven titles earlier this week. The UCI decision was based on a voluminous amount of evidence collected by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) alleging that Armstrong (and his teammates) used anabolic steroids, EPO and other banned performance-enhancing drugs and techniques.
The USADA lifetime ban of Armstrong was not based on an analytical positive for steroids or EPO or any other prohibited substance. Instead, the most incriminating supporting documentation included affidavits from eleven teammates of Armstrong. Armstrong’s teammates documented and corroborated a sophisticated doping system that allowed them to micro-dose testosterone and EPO in order to avoid detection.
The teammates betrayed their former team leader in exchange for drastically reduced bans from USADA. Their extraordinary cooperation with anti-doping authorities resulted in a reduced ban of 6-months for each rider.
While Kjaergaard admitted using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), his story differs from the eleven teammates whose affidavits were included in the USADA “Reasoned Decision”. Kjaergaard claimed that he never had any direct knowledge of PED use by any of his teammates during 2000 and 2001. Yet, he assumed they all used PEDs based on his personal experience with the team doctors.
“When I was a part of the U.S Postal Service team, everything was organised by the team,” according to Kjaergaard. “I did not need to arrange for a doctor or do anything by myself. I can assume that others at US Postal were using something that the witness reports said. I have no direct knowledge, though.”
Kjaergaard refused to identify himself as a victim and/or blame Armstrong for pressuring him to dope. The Norwegian cyclist took personal responsibility for his actions. Kjaergaard made the decision to dope on his own accord. He sought out a Belgian physician named George Mouton. Mouton was known for prescribing doping products and dispensing advice on how to avoid detection.
Kjaergaard’s confession was not without consequences. The Norwegian Cycling Federation immediately suspended Kjaergaard upon learning of his admission.
Source:
Gronnevet, J. (October 23, 2012). Steffen Kjaergaard, another ex-Lance Armstrong teammate, admits to doping. Retrieved from http://sports.nationalpost.com/2012/10/23/steffen-kjaergaard-another-ex-lance-armstrong-teammate-admits-to-doping/
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