Feb 12, 2009 9:58 pm US/Pacific
Critic, Armstrong Tangle During News Conference
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
Lance Armstrong lashed out at a reporter in Sacramento this evening. The reporter called Armstrong a "cancer on the sport of cycling." It all happened during tonight's Tour of California news conference.
The Amgen Tour's kickoff took an unexpected turn tonight when Lance Armstrong was confronted by one of his biggest critics who wondered why the seven time Tour De France champion admired dopers.
"I'm not sure I will ever forgive you for that statement," says Armstrong.
Lance Armstrong's comeback has hit Sacramento with one of his biggest critics in hot pursuit.
"I'm not happy to see him back in the sport," says Paul Kimmage. "I've spent the last 20 years as a journalist trying to expose the problem of cancer, the drug that doping represents."
Paul Kimmage is on a crusade against cheating. The Irish columnist not only likens performance enhancing drugs to cancer, but says Armstrong is cycling's biggest cancer. The statement, which doesn't sit well with the seven-time Tour De France champion, who himself is a cancer survivor.
"You said folks the cancer has been in remission for four years, but our cancer returned meaning me. I am here fighting the disease," said Armstrong.
Kimmage had asked for a one-on-one interview with Armstrong, which he refused to do.
"I asked for an interview, but I didn't get one," said Kimmage.
"No, we're not going to sit down and do an interview and I don't think anyone in this room would sit down for that interview, you are not worth the chair you're sitting on with a statement like that," Armstrong replied.
Armstrong's accustomed to finger-pointing, but has always maintained his innocence.
"I don't know how many times everyone else at this table has been tested since last season. I've been tested 16 times outside of an independent program. So, I'm telling you that I'm as clean as a whistle," Armstrong said strongly.
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