Armstrong manager slams Andreu for doping comments

GRANADA, Spain, Sep 13 (Reuters) Lance Armstrong's former team manager has described claims by one of the seven-times Tour de France winner's team mates that he took a banned blood booster while preparing for the 1999 race as ''unfounded.'' Frankie Andreu, who as part of the U.S. Postal Service team helped American compatriot Armstrong win the Tour in 1999 and 2000, said in an interview with the New York Times that he had used erythropoietin (EPO) before the first of those races.

Speaking to Spanish sports daily Marca today, Johan Bruyneel said ''I do not understand why he [Andreu] goes on making these unfounded statements.'' Belgian Bruyneel, who directed Armstrong from 1999 until the American's retirement in 2005, said Andreu was a ''pitiful man.'' ''An American judge has already shown that Andreu has no credibility.'' ''In any case, neither me nor Lance are losing any sleep over this, because his attacks are no longer a surprise.'' Bruyneel is currently directing the Discovery Channel team at the Tour of Spain.

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