PARIS - LANCE Armstrong has undergone hundreds of urine and blood tests throughout his cycling career. This time, he was in for a surprise - a hair sample test.
Armstrong and French anti-doping agency AFLD said on Wednesday that he was approached for a hair sample in an unannounced test on Tuesday in Beaulieu-sur-Mer in southern France, where he is training as part of his comeback for a crack at an eighth Tour de France title.
FRENCH DOPING RAMPANT?
News of Armstrong's test came as the ALFD published hair test results suggesting widespread use among French athletes of DHEA, a banned substance that can be used to boost testosterone levels.
The AFLD tested hair samples of 138 French football players, rugby players, track and field athletes and cyclists.
Armstrong said it was the 24th anti-doping test he's faced since he announced his return in September, and the first time he's ever been asked to provide a sample of hair.
'I'm fully aware that it's part of the job. I knew that going in. I'm a little surprised by the frequency but I'm not complaining,' he said.
A French anti-doping inspector armed with a pair of scissors took six clumps of Armstrong's hair that will now be tested for signs of drug use, said Jean-Pierre Verdy, the French anti-doping agency's director of doping controls.
'He didn't make my hair look very good,' said Armstrong, who also gave blood and urine samples. 'That's why I cut it after that, after he butchered it. There were a few good stripes at the back so we just buzzed it down.'
Testing of hair samples is allowed under French law, but is not recognized by the World Anti-Doping Agency or cycling's governing body UCI. International doping controls are based on urine and blood tests.
Doping accusations, especially from the AFLD, have dogged Armstrong since the beginning of his run to a record seven straight Tour de France victories. He has never tested positive. -- AP
