cycling
hamilton allegations familiar
AUSTIN, Texas — Tyler Hamilton says Lance Armstrong gave him an illegal blood booster at his house before the 1999 Tour de France and the teammates compared notes on using performance-enhancing drugs as far back as 1998.
Hamilton makes the allegations in his book, The Secret Race. Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France, Doping, Cover-ups and Winning at All Costs, set to be published Wednesday. Armstrong agent Bill Stapleton declined to comment to the Associated Press.
Armstrong has long denied doping but last week chose not to fight drug charges made by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. The agency has erased 14 years of Armstrong's competitive results, including his seven Tour de France titles.
The book mirrors much of what Hamilton told CBS's 60 Minutes in 2011 and what he said he told federal criminal investigators looking into doping allegations against the U.S. Postal Service team, for which Hamilton and Armstrong rode together from 1998-2001. Officials closed that investigation in February without bringing charges against Armstrong.
Hamilton described a doping plan put in place by the Postal Service team for the 1999 Tour de France, with Armstrong's knowledge, that included a motorcyclist riding behind racers with a thermos full of the blood-booster EPO. It was to be dispensed in the team camper after race stages.
He said team leaders, doctors and managers encouraged and supervised doping and performance-enhancing drugs were handed out to cyclists in white lunch bags.
Armstrong has previously sought to discredit Hamilton as a drug cheat who was twice banned for doping and was recently stripped of his 2004 Olympic gold medal.
pro basketball
Magic adds six assistants
Magic coach Jacque Vaughn has completed his staff with the addition of six assistants.
James Borrego, Wes Unseld Jr. and Brett Gunning were hired to serve as main assistants. Laron Profit and Luke Stuckey will lead player development, and Gordon Chiesa was hired as a special consultant.
WNBA: Tamika Catchings scored 22 points and Katie Douglas had 15 to lead Indiana to a 76-63 victory over host New York. Shavonte Zellous added 11 points to help the Fever win its fourth straight. … Erika DeSouza had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and host Atlanta dominated the second half and defeated Washington 82-59 to give coach Fred Williams his first victory after being promoted to replace fired Marynell Meadors this week.
et cetera
Golf: Gregory Bourdy shot 8-under 63 to lead by two after the rain-swept European Masters first round in Crans-Sur-Sierre, Switzerland. Paul Lawrie shot 69. Defending champion Thomas Bjorn had 74, and Greg Norman made eagle in his round of 75.
NHL: The Oilers signed forward Jordan Eberle to a six-year, $36 million contract extension. Eberle, 22, had 34 goals and 42 assists in 78 games last season.
Times wires
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