Readers of Lance Armstrong book sue over denial of drug use

SAN FRANCISCO – Readers of Lance Armstrong’s two books detailing his cycling accomplishments are suing the disgraced athlete and his publishers because of his denials of drug use.

A lawsuit was filed in federal court in Sacramento on Tuesday by several consumers who bought the bestselling books, including Rob Stutzman, who served as an aide to former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The lawsuit seeks class action status.

The lawsuit accuses Armstrong of fraud, false advertising and several other allegations for denying he used performance enhancing drugs while winning multiple Tour de France cycling races.

The plaintiffs said they were duped into believing that “It’s Not About The Bike” or “Every Second Counts” were real-life, inspirational accounts of Armstrong’s accomplishments.

Armstrong admitted to cheating throughout his career in a televised interview last week.

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APPHOTO LON107: FILE – In this July 6, 2010 file photo, seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong of the U.S., right, looks at his opponent and 2009 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador of Spain, as they ride in the pack during the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 213 kilometres (132.4 miles) with start in Wanze, Belgium and finish in Arenberg, France. Just days after Lance Armstrong’s doping admission, cycling is set for more damaging revelations as a long-delayed drug investigation finally goes to court in Spain. Seven years after Spanish investigators uncovered one of cycling’s most sophisticated and widespread doping rings, some of its central figures will stand trial on Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 in the Operation Puerto case. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski, File) (6 Jul 2010)

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