Lance Armstrong considering "all options" as he faces new doping charges

Lance Armstrong in a May 11, 2012 file photo in Los Angeles. / AP Photo/Reed Saxon

(CBS/AP) AUSTIN, Texas - Lance Armstrong's lawyers demanded access to evidence gathered by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, including the names of witnesses who said they saw the seven-time Tour de France champion use performance-enhancing drugs.

Attorney Robert Luskin asked the agency by letter to turn over the names as well as all test results.

Armstrong has until June 22 to respond in writing to the fresh allegations, the first step of what could be months-long process.

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"I'm exploring all my options," Armstrong said in a telephone interview Thursday with The Associated Press from Paris. "They're not limited only to arbitration with USADA. I think there are other questions that need to be answered with regard to their behavior and tactics."

"They are well known to move the goal line on you," he said.

" ... We are entitled to certain things, certain pieces of evidence, if not all the evidence in terms of what will be in front of the review board," he said.

Separately, the AP obtained a copy of the letter Luskin sent to USADA on Wednesday.

"(We) cannot protect Mr. Armstrong's rights without knowing who is saying what and what events that allegedly occurred over the course of a decade and a half," Luskin wrote. "Even at this preliminary stage, your reliance on secret witnesses making deliberately vague charges is unconscionable."

USADA says it has blood samples from 2009 and 2010 that are consistent with performance-enhancing drug use and more than 10 former Armstrong teammates and support personnel who will testify they saw the Tour champion use drugs or talk about using them.

USADA has said it will not release the names of witnesses at this stage in order to protect them from attempts to intimidate them.

The 40-year-old Armstrong was scheduled to race in a June 24 triathlon in France, but USADA's allegations mean he cannot compete. He spoke to the AP from Paris, but is planning to return to the U.S.

He questioned USADA's motivation.

In a previous letter, Luskin complained that USADA officials had tagged along with federal criminal investigators to interview witnesses during a two-year probe that ended in February with no criminal charges being brought against Armstrong.

Armstrong had hoped that case would end the doping questions that have dogged his entire career, but USADA officials had insisted they would press their own investigation. The agency notified Armstrong on Tuesday it would file formal charges.

Armstrong could be stripped of the Tour titles he won from 1999 to 2005 and banned from cycling, though he retired from the sport last year.

Luskin's letter notes that the blood samples collected in 2009 and 2010 — when Armstrong came out of retirement to race in the Tour de France — did not result in positive drug tests at the time.

"As you well know ... he successfully passed every test administered to him during that period, as he has passed every test that was ever administered," Luskin wrote.

Armstrong has been dogged by doping allegations since his first Tour victory in 1999, but had hoped his fight to be viewed as a clean champion was finally won after federal prosecutors closed their probe. Armstrong has said the investigation took a heavy emotional toll and he was relieved when it ended. (Watch "60 Minutes" report from May 2011 on Armstrong doping allegations.)

[1TeufelHunde]

The French tried since day one and tested him over 500 times and got nothing. Winning 7 TdF titles made many Americans proud and raised the sport. Now, the guy retires from cycling and went back to being a triathlete and on the verge of becoming top tier winner...now, his fellow Americans is out to get him where the French failed? Freakin sad don't you think? Frogs I understand, but USADA? I guess haters will be haters, fans will be fans! Counter sue Lance and take all of USADA's $13mil budget, shut it down and put it in Livestrong. Semper Fi!

[Tax73]

Whether or not Armstrong used performance enhancing drugs is a moot point, as his team mates have admitted to doping and as the leader of those teams he directly benefited from the his team mates doping. Here's an article that expands on this theory http://youkantbeserious.com/2012/06/14/it-doesnt-matter-whether-or-not-he-doped-armstrong-should-lose-his-titles/#more-107

[mkelley9849]

This agency seems to have been in charge during the Salem witch trials. If the Feds took two years to investigate and found nothing to charge him with (see Roger Clemens), why does this "agency" persist? Because they have no other purpose than to persecute, not exonerate, athletes.

[FreddySanford]

LOL. He passed all tests with flying colors and no sign of blood manipulation... the years he LOST. LOL !

Justice is out to get you Armstrong. You can only RUN so long. Justice must be served. The universe demands it. You goin down dude

[1TeufelHunde]

Oh Freddy...you misinformed sad being. I guess you are a winner in your sad life. Justice coming from admitted liars and dopers, your universe dude. You sound like your ride is a trike! RUN? Now try swimming, riding and running 70.3km and win it against the best in the world and ALWAYS CLEAN, freakin loser! Yeah, I'm a winning fan! Before throwing mud buddy, look thyself in the mirror first!

[carolhill814]

I just wish they would leave him alone because to me he did everything fair and square.

[erasmus111]

But you don't know for a FACT that he did everything fair and square. Do you?

[train99]

Concerted effort in America to disgrace everyone/anyone you ever looked up to and consequently lose all self-confidence and become easily controlled. Age of Obama.

[Noval53]

The same tired bunch of liars, snitches, and rats have floated to the top of the ceptic tank again; same show, different sponsor. Lance Armstrong is the victim of a vindetta led by Proven liars. The only way the rats can save themselves is by attempting continuously to bring Lance down. Lance passed 500 drug tests and never failed ANY. Leave him alone.

[cube4hire]

I hope it's not true. It dose seem odd how a cancer survivor can comeback from that that challenge and be clearly superior to every other rider in the world. But that's one of the reasons he was so impressive. So as I said I hope he beats this charge because if not the disgrace will be overwhelming and it will hurt every cancer survivor that he was a role model for.

[1TeufelHunde]

It is not odd at all. Cycling races is about pain threshold. Since undergoing cancer chemo which is second only to the pain of childbirth but longer, Lance can sustain it longer than top tier racers. He also lost a lot of weight during that time and a testicle. Lighter weight plus pain endurance equals 7 TDF titles. I guess he doped by taking chemo chemicals. Bottom line, haters will be haters, fans will be fans. For seven years, most of the american people are proud that an american cyclist ruled the toughest competition on the planet. The french tried to bring him down by testing him 500 or more times but to no avail. The sad part is after retirement, it is the freakin loser americans are trying to bring him down! Now Lance is once again winning the second toughest competition as a triathlete representing the good ol USA, and the government (yes USADA gets 90% tax money) is going after him because GWB is a friend and fellow Texan. Sad state of affair.

[gary4books]

Read what Sally Jenkins has to say: http://live.washingtonpost.com/sally-jenkins-0614.html