Armstrong and chiropractor's names used to endorse healing machine

While the lawyers of Lance Armstrong said the multi-time Tour de France winner has neither used nor endorsed an EPFX machine, they claimed Armstrong's name, likeness, image and registered trademarks have been used without his permission to market the device world-wide according to a story in the Seattle Times. The EPFX is reported to heal with radio frequencies.

Armstrong's representatives have sent cease and desist letters to EPFX operators and related web sites asking for an end to false claims. Through his lawyers, Armstrong has said he never heard of the machine.

EPFX distributed materials saying that Armstrong's chiropractor Jeffrey Spencer used treat Armstrong during the 2003 Tour de France. The Times found that EPFX promoters paid Spencer US$20,000 since 2003 to talk at conferences and teach attendees use of the machine "to diagnose ailments and treat injury." The manufacturer of EPFX, William Nelson, is sought on federal health care fraud charges.

Spencer has admitted authoring a testimonial on how the device could support cyclists during races in the EPFX newsletter, but claims not to have used the device for diagnosis or healing. He has since retracted statements about the EPFX attributing them to fatigue and distraction while travelling. Spencer, too, will be sending cease and desist notices to relevant parties.

"I would certainly not ever use this device again or recommend it to anybody," said Spencer.