Known as one of the greatest cycling icons of all time, Lance Armstrong saw his reputation and position in the sport drastically damaged when he admitted, at a late stage of his achievements in the Tour de France, the use of EPO (erythropoietin), a banned substance.
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However, how did Armstrong manage to avoid sanctions for such a prolonged period? In an interview on the “Club Random” podcast with Bill Maher, Armstrong addressed the topic of his use of banned substances and explained how he escaped drug tests throughout his career.
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“I’ve been tested 500 times and I’ve never failed a drug test,” Armstrong said. He detailed that some of the substances, especially those that are most beneficial, have a short half-life of approximately four hours. “That’s not a lie. That’s the truth. There was no way to avoid the test. When I urinated in the cup and they tested the urine, I passed all the tests,” Armstrong explained. When pressed by Maher about how he got around the tests, Armstrong revealed: “The reality is that some of these substances, particularly the one that is most beneficial, have a half-life of four hours.” He highlighted that EPO, the most consumed substance that has transformed not just cycling but all endurance sports, has a short half-life, leaving the body quickly.
Armstrong pointed out, “With a half-life of four hours, you can just do the math.” Although Maher expressed surprise, Armstrong clarified that he was not encouraging anyone to adopt this practice. He concluded the interview with a controversial statement, highlighting the undetectable nature of the drug and its supposed safety when administered under a doctor’s supervision.