IRISH JOURNALISTS Paul Kimmage and David Walsh have rightly been credited with helping to expose Lance Armstrong as one of the biggest cheats in sporting history.
But the pair have taken criticism and fought legal battles for over a decade as they tried to do so.
So too has Dublin-born masseuse Emma O’Reilly.
O’Reilly’s testimony made up part of the incredible USADA report which was released last week and labelled Armstrong as the ringleader of a sophisticated and cynical doping programme.
On a BBC radio documentary to be broadcast tonight, O’Reilly — who was the seven-time Tour de France champion’s personal masseuse and assistant in the 1990s – alleges she was used as a “drug runner” during her time working for the Armstrong’s US Postal team.
“I went down in an unmarked car, a good six hours drive, and also that was another reason I knew it was something (untoward) because Lance had said to me ‘don’t tell your boyfriend’,” she says in the piece on Five Live.
“There’s no way in hell am I going to bring him down, crossing over a border (and) pick up a package. Basically as I used to say to some of the soigneurs (team assistants), ‘you are drug runners’, and that’s what I was being for the weekend. And to involve (her boyfriend) in it, without letting him know that ‘here, you can come with me if you want, but here’s what I’m doing’….
“So we went down, six hours down that way, Johan [Bruyneel] gave me the tablets, very discretely, without letting anybody else know that I was getting them, and the following day we want back up to France and then the following morning I met Lance in the car park at McDonald’s and just handed them over.”
Bruyneel quit as general manager of the RadioShack Nissan Trek team by mutual agreement on Friday.
….not really something I’d admit to, Emma…
What is genuinely sad about all of this is that Lance Armstrong was seen as an inspiration not just to aspiring sports stars but also to those who battled cancer, while we do not know if his cancer story was in any way fabricated (there is no evidence to suggest it was) presenting himself as someone who overcame the illness ( and despite being a cheat he still ought to be respected for that if it is the case) and achieved unprecedented success thereafter is awfully unfair, if he was going to cheat did he need to write his celebratory book on top, some cheat and keep it quite others achieve alleged greatness through underhand and clandestine cheating but then portray themselves as superhumans who ought to be celebrated for their greatness ( alot of traders, property developers…) it is despicable, shame on him if all of this is true.
Lets ignore this clown and acknowledge real greatness in sport ( Messi, Kilkenny, McElroy, Donegal, German football team!) as distinct from all the “celebrity” chameleons purporting to be great on the results of their underhand tactics.
During that period all cyclists were drugged up to the eye balls. They just weren’t tested for it. Armstrong achieved his wins against a level playing field, post successful treatment for cancer. The sport of cycling, and the UCI are guilty for not regulating themselves to a fair standard
why not. ???? fair play to her.
the drugs weren’t illegal, only illegal in sport.
Glen…not true. Some athletes gain more from PEDs than others.
Declan – performance enhancing drugs are illegal in France. Not just sport illegal.
the thing she hated most about the drug running was when they payed lots of cash…….
Me neither, why you kept quiet for so long????? V
She didn’t keep quiet.her allegations are printed in a book. She and the author were sued by Armstrong.
Quiet for so long? She has spoken out numerous times about it, subsequently quit the team and her testimony was published in ‘LA Confidential’ almost 7 years ago.
She paid the price for her whistleblowing and was ruined financially by Armstrong, not to mention the distraught suffered by what he labelled her afterwards (detailed in yesterday’s Sunday Times)
She’s been forced to keep quiet all these years along with other brave people like Betsy Andreu who are now only beginning to feel vindicated.
To Kimmage and Walsh and all the others who spent years tirelessly trying to expose this shameless bully – well done to you all.
Well said, Paul.
Joan — If you’re not sure of the facts maybe just stay quiet.
Joan tends to give opinions very often whilst displaying zero knowledge of the facts. Need to read up before you type once in a while.
Is there any chance of getting some for the Irish football team !!!!
Was it a bad move hiring a drug runner for a team ob bicycles.
Guilty as charged, don’t really follow sport, just the big stories I read on the journal etc.
Armstrong is a psychopath, it explains everything.
Ireland has a pretty bad record on drug cheats. Lien O Connor nearly single-handedly destroyed our reputation as a nation for horse breeding. Michelle De Bruen – she nearly destroyed our reputation for having a well educated smart nation by being so stupid. The Quinns addiction to power and money have helped destroy our economy yet people still support these despicable people.
She’s just begging for a stretch in the clink!
Close your mouth woman, before you get hauled off.
They are not Narcotics Steve. Most are perfectly legal if used correctly. They are just banned for use in professional sports.
Are you not thinking of corticosteroids, which are used routinely for medical purposes, whereas what athlete’s take are anabolic steroids, these build up cellular tissue especially in the muscles which is why the give an unfair advantage, a dirrerent thing altogether. They also have a lot of side affects.
I was in hospital with a tumor and I always kept my livestrong wristband on. What ever he is, I was inspired to never give up and live strong.
Was he just taking performance enhancer or what’s the story!?