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- Written by: Stuart Kenny
Lance Armstrong has hit out at Ben Foster, star of upcoming biopic film ‘The Program’ about the shamed cyclist’s life, after reports hit the internet that the actor had been taking performance-enhancing drugs to prepare for the role. The former seven-time Tour de France champion and international celebrity replied to a tweet by cycling news account @dougreport which shared a link to an article about the reports, retorting “that’s some serious bullshit right there.”
@dougreport that's some serious bullshit right there
— Lance Armstrong (@lancearmstrong) September 11, 2015
When Twitter user @RickGarman pointed out the irony in Lance Armstrong calling someone else out for ‘bullshit’, the athlete, who remains banned from all competitive sports for life after the 2012 scandal, replied: “fair enough but I also know a thing or two about PED’s and I can tell you this is bullshit.”
@RickGarman @dougreport fair enough but I also know a thing or two about PED's and I can tell you this is bullshit
— Lance Armstrong (@lancearmstrong) September 13, 2015
The comments come after Foster had spoken to The Guardian about taking the drugs to get into character, saying: “For my investigation it was important for me privately to understand it. And they work. Even discussing it feels tricky because it isn’t something I’d recommend to fellow actors.
“There’s a lot of fallout. Doping affects your mind. It doesn’t make you feel high. There are behaviours when you’ve got those chemicals running through your body that serve you on the bike, but which, when you’re not...
“I don’t know how to separate the chemical influence from the psychological attachment I had to the character. If it’s working, it keeps you up at night. This is losing your marbles, right? They’re definitely rolling around. They’re under the couch but they’re retrievable.”
The tweet is the only real public acknowledgement Armstrong has made on the upcoming Hollywood biopic, which is set for release on 16 October and has already received much interest and various positive reviews.
Foster’s performance as the Texan athlete is said to have possibly even been good enough for an Oscar nod, with Sunday Times journalist David Walsh, who initially exposed Armstrong’s deceit and whose book ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ is the basis for the film, even tweeting that he believes Lance may find Foster’s portrayal fair.
Don't know how Lance A will react to Ben Foster's portrayal of him but wouldn't surprised if he thought it was fair. It is also brilliant.
— David Walsh (@DavidWalshST) September 13, 2015
Whether the former cycling hero will make any further comment, official or otherwise, on ‘The Program’ remains to be seen. Judging by the latest trailer though, the film is going to make for one hell of a watch.