Cycling Coach Has Only Known Armstrong to Ride Clean

Armstrong threatened with loss of titles for skipping arbitration

Cycling great Lance Armstrong, accused of doping by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, is facing a lifelong ban from the sport and the loss of his seven Tour de France titles for refusing to take charges against him to arbitration.

A cyclist and coach who’s known Lance Armstrong since he was 15 said he's only known the cyclist to be clean.

Max Miley met Armstrong at the Richardson Bike Mart. The first time he rode with Armstrong he said Armstrong wasn’t that great, but got stronger and stronger and soon became one of the best young riders in North Texas.

“When I was around him and spent time with him and we traveled and ate together and did all kinds of stuff, there was never any talk or indication there was anything about drugs,” said Miley.

While Miley said he can’t know for sure if Armstrong cheated, he said he only knew him to be clean.

“He was a super strong athlete at a very young age, so it’s not like he suddenly got a rocket in his pocket later in his career and started killing everybody,” said Miley. “He was doing it when he was young.”

Miley said he was surprised to hear Friday morning Armstrong was done fighting the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency but said he believes Armstrong when he said he was tired of fighting.

“There seems to be somewhat of a vendetta to get him,” said Miley of the USADA. “They’re working so hard, they’ve tried so many times and I think he’s tired of fighting it.”

At this time, the Tour de France said they will wait to see what UCI and USADA do next before acting on Armstrong.

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