The biggest outcome from Thor Hushovd’s self-titled biography was the evidence that Lance Armstrong confessed to the Norwegian that he doped. In previous interviews, Hushovd never commented on whether he believed Armstrong doped. But now, Hushovd has come under fire after his book claimed that he knew all about Armstrong.

“Many would probably say I almost defended Lance with my evasive answers,” he writes. “So be it. I did not need to judge him. Why should I jump on the wave and crucify Lance because the circumstances and the media expected it?”

“Maybe I could’ve told the anti-doping bodies. But I don’t think it is my job to. And they were already working a lot on this issue at the time. If this would’ve happened again, I would probably have done the same thing. I’ve chosen to handle doping related issues in my own way during my career.”

“If I had said that Lance did this, there wouldn’t have been a lot left of me. I was supposed to ride a bike. That’s my job. And I’ve done it pretty well now and then. Others will have to discover who doped or not. That issue I raise in my book as well. Why doesn’t the anti-doping government catch those who cheat? I think that’s worth raising questions about.”

WADA issued a statement to CyclingTips reiterating that Hushovd was no obligated to come forward with what he knew.

“Under Article 2.9 of the revised (2015) Code, there is no obligation for an athlete to take the initiative to report doping,” the spokesman said in response to an enquiry from CyclingTips. “Rather, a potential infraction could include intentionally lying or misleading authorities when it relates to doping.”

“There would need to be one of the intentional forms of complicity outlined in Article 2.9 in order for there to be a potential infraction.”

“We all did it,” he said that Armstrong told him then. The Texan was speaking to him after he was publicly accused by former teammate Tyler Hamilton of doping.

Hushovd also claims that after Armstrong confessed that he doped in 2013 to Oprah Winfrey and the Norwegian spoke out against him, Armstrong sent him the following text: “Do you really think I’m the only one who cheats out there? How stupid is it possible to be!” 

“Like when I was going to meet a friend,” he writes. “He rode for another team, but I knew what hotel he was staying in and I burst into the room without knocking.

“There sat one of his team-mates with a syringe in his arm and five other riders on the bed as spectators. I turned on my heel and walked right back out. It looked really freaky.”

Yet Hushovd claimed in 2010 that he had never witnessed any drugs being used in the professional peloton: “I have never seen drugs in the cycling scene, and never in the evenings in the urban environment.”

With Hushovd having clearly not answered truthfully in the past about doping, many fans now question whether or not Hushovd doped himself. But the rider, who was the 2010 World Champion, reiterated his previous claims that he has never doped.

“I understand that it can be hard for people to believe that after such a long period in the sport that I was never offered any kind of doping,” he insists. “But it’s true. No one has ever come to me and asked if I would try. With my hand on my heart I can say that I have never been tempted.”

Christophe Bassons, a rider forced out of cycling because he refused to dope, previously claimed that it was impossible to win clean, but Hushovd had some harsh words to say to Bassons and uses himself as an example as someone who won clean.

“He probably had a rough time when riding, but he should also have the guts to look at himself. Because, he has said it was impossible to compete at top level [chasing wins, ed.] without using doping. Then he has to look at himself: Did he do a good enough job? Was his talent big enough? Did he eat the right food? He must look himself in the mirror. I’ve never seen anyone ask him those questions. Because it is possible. I did it.”

Hushovd also weighed in on claims that the UCI and then President Hein Verbruggen covered up some positive test’s from Armstrong in order to protect him and the sport, as cycling was never before as popular as it was when Lance Armstrong was at the peak of his powers.

“Look at the Armstrong case,” he said. “He was the sport’s big superstar and the golden calf. The UCI would have lost a lot if Armstrong was revealed as a cheater. I think the positive samples were hidden to save Armstrong and to protect the sport.”

Hushovd’s biography “Thor” was released last Wednesday. In it, Hushovd talks about Armstrong, doping, not paying Edvald Boasson Hagen for helping Hushovd win the Worlds and fighting off weight.