Friday, September 17, 2010

Betsy Andreu Opens Up to VeloNation

A few weeks ago, we mentioned that Betsy Andreu, wife of former Lance Armstrong teammate Frankie Andreu, was cooperating with Jeffrey Novitzky in Novitzky's investigation of Lance Armstrong.  VeloNation has scored an exclusive interview with Betsy, and the interview is a must read for anyone following the Lance Armstrong doping investigation.  Among other thing, Betsy talks about her motivation for cooperating with Novitzky, the backlash she and her husband have faced, and where she sees the investigation leading.  Here are a few quotes from the interview I found particularly interesting.  Check out the full interview at VeloNation.

VeloNation: Where do you see things going now? What do you think will happen in the next few weeks and months? 
Betsy Andreu: I think it is just going to continue. With Roger Clemens, it was one person…Brian McNamee, who said he doped. With Barry Bonds, there were basically two people…his ex-girlfriend, and his trainer Greg Anderson, who said he doped. 
With Lance, there are many, many, many, many people. When you look at the big picture, Frankie and I are but two. Floyd is just another piece of the puzzle. There are so many other people who are going to be involved. What are they going to do – get Lance’s PR firm to smear every person who is telling the truth? 
VN: So do you expect them to confirm what you have said? 
BA: I think that some will, and if any of the others don’t, it is very, very stupid. Perjury and going to jail for it amounts to something very real. And who wants to go to jail? 

...

VN: There was an interesting statement recently by Armstrong’s PR manager Mark Fabiani…
BA: Yes, it was in the LA Times, I have it here. In their original story, he is quoted as saying [reads] “Lance was required to undergo an active steroid and EPO regimen as part of his post-operative treatment, which may give a reasonable explanation for their having been some discussion of EPO or steroids during her visit to the hospital, having nothing to do with any suggestion of use before he was a cancer patient.” 
So, I have a few questions regarding this. Fabiani is stating that I misunderstood the doctors and the discussions that took place. In saying discussions did take place, is he then admitting that Lance lied under oath at the SCA case, when Lance said no doctors were ever present, no such discussions ever took place? 
Because this is a complete and clear contradiction…
VN: So, let’s get your point straight: Lance has said that there was no discussion, any mention of performance-enhancing drugs, but Fabiani is saying is that several substances were mentioned, but mentioned as part of a treatment therapy? 
BA: Exactly. But what is interesting is that this has now been pulled out of the LA Times’ original article. But it has already been picked up by other publications, so how are they going to squirm out of this one? 
Is Fabiani admitting that Lance lied under oath when he says that there were discussions? And, if what Fabiani is saying is true, then there should be medical records, right? Well, how come according to everybody, the medical records show that this never happened, when Fabiani is saying ‘basically, it did, he was just misunderstood’?

1 comment:

  1. Jacob Werbner, an 11 year old who recently graduated elementary school in Portland, Oregon, was talking to his friends about the stories relating to Lance Armstrong and doping.

    “Portland is such a big biking town that Lance was sort of a hero to us. Not only did he win championships but also he survived cancer and supported cancer research.” said Jacob to his father.

    “Now all these stories are coming up and it seems like there are too many people saying Lance is guilty for it to be a coincidence. We are taught to not lie. And, if we do lie, we are taught to admit it and take responsibility for our actions. He’s just denying everything.”

    Out of the mouths of babes

    Jacob asked his father if he could make a Lance Lied wristband to replace his Livestrong band.

    They discussed the difference between Lance’s personal actions and the good work the Livestrong charity was doing and that it wouldn’t be right to disparage the charity. So instead of using a yellow band as Jacob wanted, they agreed on a black band with yellow letters to drive the point home.

    Jacob set up LanceLied.com to offer the wristbands to the public. A small political statement mixed with a lesson in e-Commerce 101.

    A few people have taken offense and sent in emails defending the man who is still their hero.

    All proceeds will go toward his college education.

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