SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Utah is getting pulled into the Lance Armstrong doping case. It's now being called the biggest one ever.
Salt Lake City native Dave Zabriskie and former Utahn Levi Leipheimer both admit to doping in affidavits made public Wednesday by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
The Utah favorites are two of 11 former teammates of Armstrong who testified about the seven-time Tour de France cycling champ and his use of banned substances, but also made their own confessions.
In the documents Zabriskie admits to using the banned oxygen booster "EPO" and testified "I suspected that some of my teammates were using performance enhancing drugs".
Zabriske testified he was gradually drawn into doping because of peer pressure and losing his place on the team. He testified one fellow racer told him "everyone's doing it".
The testimony may show a pervasive doping culture in the sport of cycling. ABC4 asked cyclists on Emigration Canyon their thoughts doping admissions from the local cycling stars.
“You're just wondering if it's everywhere, if everyone is doing it,” said cycling fan, Jamie Dickson
“I think it's sad just because so many people are out there who work so hard and train and kick butt and then those guys are faking it,” said Lanna Waisath, a fan of cycling.
“Like most things I think the truth is somewhere in the middle,” said Kristie Nation, a cycling enthusiast. “Only Dave or Lance or any of those guys know what they did.”
Both Zabriskie and Leipheimer have been banned from cycling for six months and the USADA has stripped them of some of their racing results.
