Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong is an American professional cyclist. Armstrong became world-famous for winning 7 consecutive Tour de France titles after recovering from cancer. He also started the 'LiveStrong' brand to generate awareness and donations for cancer research.

Armstrong is in the news (aug 2012) for doping allegations. The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has been investigating Armstrong's case. He had refused to enter arbitration in and in light of this the USADA (highest anti-doping agency of the USA) has banned him for life. He will also be stripped of his sporting titles. 

Armstrong has been accused of using: 

• Testosterone: hormone that helps growth of muscle-mass and strength, increased bone desnity and strength
• Cortisone : hormone that is released by the body in times of stress. used to give short-term pain relief and reduce the swelling from inflammation of a joint, tendon
• EPO (Erythropoietin):  protein that regulates red blood cell production. Excess RBCs = excess oxygen-carrying capacity =  more energy  available in muscles = enhanced performance.
• Blood doping:  is the practice of boosting the number of red blood cells in the bloodstream in order to enhance athletic performance. Because such blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the muscles, a higher concentration in the blood can improve an athlete’s aerobic capacity (VO₂ max) and endurance. The term blood doping originally meant doping with blood, i.e. the transfusion of red blood cells. In the late 1980s, an advance in medicine led to an entirely new form of blood doping involving the hormone erythropoietin (EPO).

Sources:
http://wikipedia.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_doping