Armstrong Offered USADA Large Donation
Tygart said it was declined
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In 2004, Lance Armstrong offered to donate around $250,000 to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, according to a report by 60 Minutes set to air on Wednesday. Travis Tygart, USADA’s chief executive, tells 60 Minutes that a representative for Armstrong tried to make a “totally inappropriate” gift, similar to his $100,000 donation to the International Cycling Union after they allegedly gathered a suspect blood sample in 2001.
“I was stunned,” Tygart said. “It was a clear conflict of interest for USADA. We had no hesitation in rejecting that offer.”
Armstrong’s relationship with the UCI is now under internal investigation.
In a confusing series of responses to the report, Armstrong’s attorney told USA Today that the cyclist never made any such attempted donation. “No truth to that story. First Lance heard of it was today. He never made any such contribution or suggestion,” said Tim Herman when reached for comment. He then told the Los Angeles Times that, “At some point … I thought around the mid-2000s … someone was seeking some money for testing equipment and Armstrong offered to help. I don’t know for sure what happened.”