SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Athlete Lance Armstrong told Oprah that taking performance-enhancing and other banned drugs became so routine it was as common as having "air in his tires".
Amateur cyclist Anne Chen is training for her race next week. But this day, she is conflicted after her inspiration for joining the sport in the first place admitted to doping.
"He lied, he broke the law and he cheated," say Chen.
Athlete Lance Armstrong was stripped of his seven tour titles and banned from the sport of cycling after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency accused him of using blood transfusions.
"The athlete would remove blood from their body, then it would be stored however long so their body can increase its blood back to normal levels," says Santa Barbara Prevailing Condition Performance Center Chris Ecklund. "Then you would be adding your blood back into your body."
He was also accused of taking substances called EPO.
"It allows your body to increase red blood cell count which is the stuff that carries oxygen," says Ecklund. "Oxygen is the way your body is fueled so you're increasing your fuel tank."
Ecklund's training center teaches its athletes exercises to increase their performance for strength, power and endurance, the natural way.
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency found 37 doping violations in athletes during 2012. The U.S.A.D.A. wants Armstrong to testify under oath about his doping.
"The true hero in all of this are heroes, the athlete who did not use performance enhancing drugs," says Chen. "And went out and raced against people like Lance Armstrong and his team."
