Hamilton Faces New Doping Allegations

A Spanish newspaper reported Monday that U.S. cyclist Tyler Hamilton, an Olympic gold medalist serving a two-year suspension for blood doping, was billed by a doctor for treatment that allegedly included blood transfusions and banned performance-enhancing drugs, including steroids, human growth hormone and the synthetic blood booster EPO.

Hamilton, in a statement issued by his attorney, Howard Jacobs of Los Angeles, said, “I have not done what the article alleges.”

The report in El Pais, a national circulation paper published in Madrid, is part of a series sparked by a review of confidential judicial documents tied to a raid in May by police in Madrid. El Pais said Sunday that 58 riders in recent years might have received blood and banned substances.

Monday, the paper reported that among the documents it had reviewed was a fax, allegedly sent to Hamilton’s wife, detailing a doctor bill for 43,040 euros, about $53,850 at Monday’s exchange rate. The report said Hamilton also had been sent two pages of doctors’ files purportedly detailing calendars noted with medications to be taken in advance of the 2003 season.

For instance, the paper reported, EPO was to be taken daily from Dec. 21 until Christmas Eve, and then on alternate days until Jan. 9. On Jan. 14, blood was to be withdrawn. On Jan. 24, anabolic steroids were to be started. Then in March, growth hormone and insulin were to be taken, as well as HMG, a hormone used by menopausal women, to mask anabolic steroid use, the paper said.

In the final lead-up to the Tour de France, cycling’s premiere event, more growth hormone was to be taken and blood was to be reinfused, according to El Pais. Hamilton took fourth in the 2003 Tour despite breaking a collarbone in the first stage.

Hamilton won gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics in the time trial, then failed a test for blood doping. The backup test proved inconclusive, authorities acknowledging that the sample had mistakenly been frozen, and Hamilton kept his medal.

The month after the Olympics, in September 2004, Hamilton tested positive again for blood doping.

The test turned up markers for someone else’s blood in his system.

In February, the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, rejected Hamilton’s appeal and barred him from competition through Sept. 22, 2006.