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Latest update: 12/06/2009
- cancer - cycling - doping - Tour de France
Two-time Tour champion Fignon diagnosed with cancer
Former Tour de France winner Laurent Fignon says he has been diagnosed with cancer. The former French cyclist, beloved of the home crowd, also admitted to having used banned substances, though he did not think the two were related.
REUTERS - Laurent Fignon, who won the Tour de France in 1983 and 1984, is battling late-stage cancer, the Frenchman revealed on Friday.
"I have been diagnosed with a cancer in the digestive system," the 48-year-old said in an interview with French TV channel TF1 to be aired on Sunday.
"We don't know where it is exactly. It is in a late stage since there are metastasis. It is probably (in the) pancreas. So we do not know how long I have left to live. We do not know what is going to happen.
"But I am optimistic. We will fight and win this battle."
Fignon, now working as a cycling consultant for French television, said his cancer was unlikely to be related to the use of banned substances.
"According to the doctors, no. I have told them honestly what I did throughout my career and they said: 'No, it cannot be that.'"
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Comments (1)
Laurent Fignon
So very sad to hear the news of Mr Fignons health problems, he was my first cycling hero and still to this day the best cyclist that ever was, please let it be known that his illness can be beaten, I was diagnosed with a similar condition three years ago and survived, I hope he wins his battle and wish him well for the future. God bless him.