Lance Armstrong, the disgraced cyclist, has finally shed light on how he managed to evade drug testing and cheat his way to victory.
Despite being tested 500 times, Armstrong claims he never failed a single drug test.
So, how did he get away with it for so long?
In a recent interview with Bill Maher on his Club Random podcast, Armstrong opened up about his tactics.
He admitted that there was no way to bypass the initial urine test.
However, certain substances, such as erythropoietin (EPO), had a four-hour half-life, making them difficult to detect.
EPO is a hormone that boosts red blood cells, increasing oxygen transportation and enhancing aerobic performance.
Armstrong explained that substances like cannabis or anabolics have longer half-lives, meaning they stay in the body for a more extended period.
For example, smoking a joint could result in a positive drug test two weeks later due to its prolonged half-life.
In contrast, EPO leaves the body quickly, with a four-hour half-life.
By doing the math, Armstrong could time his drug use to coincide with the end of a stage race, ensuring that the levels of EPO in his system were undetectable during testing.
This revelation comes after years of speculation and denial by Armstrong, who finally admitted to cheating in a 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey.
As a consequence, his seven Tour de France victories were revoked, and he received a lifetime ban from competitive cycling.
He was also required to return his Olympic medal and pay a $5 million settlement to the United States government.
Additionally, Armstrong suffered significant financial losses from lost endorsement deals.
After years of laying low, Armstrong has slowly reentered the public eye.
He now hosts a popular cycling podcast alongside former teammate George Hincapie, former manager Johan Bruyneel, and JB Hager.
Armstrong has also appeared on a reality TV show that simulated life on Mars and has secured an endorsement deal with the direct-to-consumer brand Ventum.
The interview with Maher provides more insights into Armstrong's mindset and actions during his cheating years.
Whether you still defend Armstrong or have grown ambivalent, the nearly 90-minute podcast is worth a listen.
However, if you are still enraged by his past actions, it might be best to avoid it altogether.
