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Lance Armstrong’s former right-hand man blasted the cycling cheat yesterday, saying that he should be in jail for lying about taking steroids.
“He’s a petty criminal,” Mike Anderson told The Post after the disgraced champion admitted to Oprah Winfrey that he used performance-enhancing drugs.
“This is a guy who never had a real job in his life. If he had not weaseled his way into [the] sport and undertook this incredible fraud, he would be a petty criminal.”
Anderson sued his former boss in 2005 for allegedly reneging on a deal to help him open a bike shop after serving as his assistant for more than two years. Armstrong settled.
Their relationship fractured in early 2004, shortly after Anderson found Armstrong’s stash of steroids in an apartment where the star cyclist stayed while training, according to court papers.
Anderson says he’s vindicated by the confession, but still wants to see his former boss locked up.
“I’d like the guy to be brought to justice — jail would be good,” he said.
Winfrey hasn’t revealed many details on the “emotional” interview, which is set to air tonight and tomorrow night.
“I left it all on the table with her, and when it airs, the people can decide,” Armstrong told The Associated Press.
His former cancer charity said it expects full disclosure.
“We expect Lance to be completely truthful and forthcoming in his interview and with all of us in the cancer community,” Livestrong said.
The TV confession comes after Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and barred for life from Olympic sports.
Armstrong faces a slew of possible legal troubles over his confession. The Department of Justice was reportedly considering joining a whistleblower lawsuit against the doper, and could still reopen a criminal probe, sources said.
Armstrong’s attorney declined to comment. A rep did not respond to an e-mail.