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Armstrong denies former team-mate's drug accusation

Lance Armstrong does his turn on the front of the peloton © Getty Images

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Lance Armstrong has denied yet another accusation that he took performance-enhancing drugs, this time from a former team-mate.

Tyler Hamilton, who had previously denied any wrongdoing, admitted to taking a number of illegal substances during his career while on an American chat show - before accusing Armstrong and other riders of following suit.

He pinpointed the 1999 Tour de France, one of the seven Tours Armstrong won during his illustrious career, as one where performance-enhancing drugs were commonly used.

"[Armstrong] took what we all took ... there was EPO [erythropoietin] ... testosterone ... a blood transfusion," Hamilton said, in an excerpt released by the CBS television network.

"I saw [EPO] in his refrigerator. I saw him inject it more than one time, like we all did, like I did many, many times."

However, Armstrong immediately refuted Hamilton's accusations.

"20+ year career. 500 drug controls worldwide, in and out of competition. Never a failed test. I rest my case," the American said on Twitter.

Hamilton has a dubious track record. He won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games but subsequently failed a drugs test, although he kept the medal after problems with his 'B' sample. Months later he was caught blood doping, serving a two-year ban until 2007.

He then retired last year after admitting to taking an antidepressant that contained a banned steroid, which saw him handed a further eight-year ban from the sport.

His accusations come after he testified before a Los Angeles grand jury investigation into Armstrong's career. But Armstrong's representatives believe his comments are financially-motivated, rather than a desire to spread the truth.

"Hamilton is actively seeking to make money by writing a book, and now he has completely changed the story he has always told before so that he could get himself on '60 Minutes' and increase his chances with publishers," a representative said.

"But greed and a hunger for publicity cannot change the facts: Lance Armstrong is the most tested athlete in the history of sports. He has passed nearly 500 tests over 20 years of competition."

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