Tyler Hamilton Comes Clean on Cycling, Drugs and Lance

In an AFPTV interview, confessed doping cyclist Tyler Hamilton describes the elaborate doping system he says rules his sport -- and the role his former teammate Lance Armstrong played in it.

Published

2 months ago

Categories

Sports

Topics

Pro Sports

People

Lance Armstrong, Tyler Hamilton

Places

United States of America, Montana

Transcript

SUGGESTED SCRIPT: At the foot of the mountains of Montana, Tyler Hamilton has forged a new life far from the world of pro cycling. UPSOUND Tyler Hamilton (man), former professional cyclist (English, 3 sec): "Go and get it! Good boy!" And that has meant coming to terms with his past -- how he doped, and how doping was everywhere in his sport -- especially at the top, with former teammate Lance Armstrong. SOUNDBITE 1 Tyler Hamilton (man), former professional cyclist (English, 8 sec): "We were fully delinquents, if not criminals. If there was one product that we could almost not do without, it was EPO." In his book "The Secret Race", Hamilton dishes details on Armstrong's US Postal team…. like how riders would receive the performance-enhancing drug EPO on the Tour de France from a delivery man hiding in the crowds. SOUNDBITE 2 Tyler Hamilton (man), former professional cyclist (English, 12 sec): "He spent two and a half weeks on the road, kind of camping out most of the time, staying close by, waiting for the call or the text message." Hamilton said it was seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong who made sure the doping scheme was kept secret. SOUNDBITE 3 Tyler Hamilton (man), former professional cyclist (English, 21 sec): "This river is going this way. Don't try to swim up stream. You'd better swim the same way Lance Armstrong is swimming or -- if not, watch your back. // "There is the omerta, the code of silence. You don't talk. You don't, you don't, you just don't go that way, you don't go there. If you do, your career is over." Though Armstrong has now confessed to being a drug cheat -- he's never admitted to a role in other riders' doping. For Hamilton, coming clean now may be the only way to save cycling -- by clearing the path for the next generation: SOUNDBITE 4 Tyler Hamilton (man), former professional cyclist (English, 9 sec): "A big Tour de France champion is admitting to cheating. But it's the truth, it's the reality. I think the sport will gain a lot from it in the future." Hamilton's an outsider to pro cycling now -- but when he looks back, his conscience is clear. SHOTLIST: MISSOULA, MONTANA, MARCH 14, 2013, SOURCE: AFPTV - Tyler Hamilton walking with dog - Hamilton and dog on the riverbank - UPSOUND 1 Tyler Hamilton (man), former professional cyclist - More Hamilton at river - SOUNDBITE 1 Tyler Hamilton - Hamilton looking at his book, "The Secret Race" CALIFORNIA, 2009 FILE, SOURCE: CBS *NO RESALE for non-editorial purposes* - No Japan - No Free over-the-air broadcasters in Australia - No US cable news outlets, free over-the-air networks or stations, their websites and their mobile phone services - Lance Armstrong on bicycle MISSOULA, MONTANA, MARCH 14, 2013, SOURCE: AFPTV - SOUNDBITE 2 Tyler Hamilton MONTREAL, AUGUST 2012 FILE, SOURCE: AFPTV - Three shots of Lance Armstrong after particpating in charity race, and waving to crowd MISSOULA, MONTANA, MARCH 14, 2013, SOURCE: AFPTV - SOUNDBITE 3 Tyler Hamilton - Mountains above Missoula - Hamilton and dog on bridge - Hamilton speaks with man - MS and CU of Hamilton - SOUNDBITE 4 Tyler Hamilton - Pan on Tyler Hamilton walking on bridge