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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Hamilton tells ‘60 Minutes’ that Armstrong doped

Cycling: Tyler Hamilton (in photo), a former teammate of Lance Armstrong, told “60 Minutes” that he used performance- enhancing drugs with the seven-time Tour de France winner to cheat in cycling races, including the tour.

Hamilton said Armstrong took a blood booster called EPO in the 1999 Tour and before the race in 2000 and 2001.

Armstrong has denied doping – and did again Thursday – and has never failed a drug test. However, federal authorities are investigating whether he and his former U.S. Postal team did take part in a doping program.

Hamilton was caught blood doping and served a two-year ban which ended in 2007.

Associated Press

Football officials draw penalty

Preps: The Washington Officials Association earlier this week banned nearly 150 football officials in the state from working most postseason games during the next two years because the refs wore pink whistles during a week’s worth of games last fall in support of breast cancer awareness.

KIRO-FM also reported the 143 members of the Pacific Northwest Football Officials Association, which covers King County and falls under the statewide umbrella of the WOA, will have the majority of their playoff games revoked for the next two years. PNFOA president Jeff Mattson declined comment Thursday and WOA commissioner Todd Stordahl did not respond to phone or email requests.

Officials were warned last fall by the WOA that the whistles were in violation of the uniform code but didn’t issue penalties until this week.

Associated Press