[1][2][3][4] On 5 September 2012, Random House (Bantam Books) published Hamilton's memoir The Secret Race: Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France: Doping, Cover-ups, and Winning at All Costs, coauthored with American writer Daniel Coyle.

He then recounts his years on the Phonak Team when he tested positive during the Vuelta a España to an alleged homologous blood transfusion.

His career in shambles, he raced for lesser teams after his suspension, tested positive for DHEA (in an OTC herbal anti-depressant) and retired.

He later received a call from United States federal investigator Jeff Novitzky, who wanted to talk to him.

[7][8] Ekimov, who had raced for many more years than Hamilton with the infamous Lance Armstrong and Johan Bruyneel duo, was upgraded to gold.