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Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong admits he will risk financial ruin when his US$100 million whistleblower lawsuit goes before a jury in the United States later this year.
The latest of the American’s many legal problems has seen his former US Postal Service teammate Floyd Landis, the man whose evidence helped to expose Armstrong’s doping offences, bring a case to court for damages.
Due to the team being sponsored by the American post office, the US federal government has joined Landis in claiming US$100 million, one third of which would be awarded to Landis himself for originally bringing the suit.
I mean, the whistleblower case is a US$100 million case. If I lost, we would not be sitting at this table anymore
Lance Armstrong
Armstrong, who revealed he has sought counselling following his public doping confession, is confident of victory in the legal battle, but the fallen seven-time Tour de France winner concedes he is worried.
“I mean, the whistleblower case is a US$100 million case. If I lost, we would not be sitting at this table anymore,” Armstrong told a group of journalists at his home in Aspen, Colorado.
“We wouldn’t be sitting in this home anymore. We wouldn’t be sitting in any home. I don’t have US$100 million.
“We like our case, is all I will say. I’m not going to jinx myself. But I don’t know. How do you guys see it? Say the jury says: ‘Pay up US$100 million.’ Floyd Landis gets US$33 million.
“Is everybody at this jury happy with that? I would think what everybody thinks. There’s no logic to that.”
Few athletes – few people – have ever suffered such a calamitous fall from grace as Armstrong, who inspired millions by beating cancer and going on to win one of the world’s hardest sporting events multiple times before being exposed for drug abuse.
While he insists he is not in the “dark place” that anti-doping former cyclist Christophe Bassons recently claimed he is, Armstrong does admit to seeking professional help.
“Counselling is so funny because people are like, ‘Are you weak or something?’ But we hire coaches in every other facet of life, whether it’s cycling or another sport or business,” said Armstrong.
“I have been going to counselling off and on for a while. And more and more lately, actually. We can all be better people. And God knows I could.”
Although the 43-year-old admits he was “a complete dick for a long time”, he says he cannot apologise for everything.
I’m going to be sorry for that person who was a believer, who was a fan, who supported me, who defended me, and ended up looking like a fool
Lance Armstrong
“I’m not going to be sorry for certain things,” he said. “I’m going to be sorry for that person who was a believer, who was a fan, who supported me, who defended me, and ended up looking like a fool.
“I need to really be contrite and sorry about that. And I am. I’m more worried about Mary-Jane in Ohio, and Doug in Pennsylvania, or Liam in Birmingham or wherever.
“Listen, if I could walk the world and face-to-face apologise, I would.”
Armstrong, who claimed he lost US$75 million in sponsorship and endorsement income on the day he confessed to his serial doping three years ago, is also still in touch with the US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada).
Usada chief executive Travis Tygart has offered a reduction in Armstrong’s lifetime ban from competitive sport in return for further co-operation.
Armstrong believes such a lifting of the suspension is “highly unlikely”, but in any case, the Texan claims he has “nothing new” to offer Tygart.
Armstrong will return to charity work next month when he completes two or three stages of the 2015 Tour de France route for the Cure Leukaemia organisation.


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Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong admits Floyd Landis’ US$100 million lawsuit could ruin him

Lance Armstrong says he has been undergoing psychological counselling. Photo: AFP

Floyd Landis and his former team, US Postal Service, have joined forces in bringing the US$100 million lawsuit against Lance Armstrong. Photo: AFP

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