Lance Armstrong faces fresh doping charges from USADA

This article was written by Washington Post staff writer Amy Shipley

(Washington Post) The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency brought formal doping charges against former cyclist Lance Armstrong in an action that could cost him his seven Tour de France titles, according to a letter sent to Armstrong and several others Tuesday.

As a result of the formal charges, Armstrong has been immediately banned from competition in triathlons, a sport he took up after his retirement from cycling in 2011.

In the 15-page charging letter obtained by The Post, USADA made previously unpublicized allegations against Armstrong, alleging it collected blood samples from Armstrong in 2009 and 2010 that were "fully consistent with blood manipulation including EPO use and/or blood transfusions." Armstrong has never tested positive.

In February, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles ended a nearly two-year investigation into doping allegations involving Armstrong without bringing criminal charges. As part of that investigation, Armstrong's former teammates Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton cooperated with federal agents and publicly accused Armstrong of doping.

USADA is the quasi-government agency that oversees anti-doping in Olympic sports in the United States. It is empowered to bring charges that could lead to suspension from competition and the rescinding of awards. It does not have authority to bring criminal charges.

Armstrong's attorney, Washington-based Robert D. Luskin, called USADA's latest allegations a product of "malice and spite" on behalf of USADA, which for years has been seeking information on whether Armstrong doped.

Armstrong issued the following response to the USADA allegation: I have been notified that USADA, an organization largely funded by taxpayer dollars but governed only by self-written rules, intends to again dredge up discredited allegations dating back more than 16 years to prevent me from competing as a triathlete and try and strip me of the seven Tour de France victories I earned. These are the very same charges and the same witnesses that the Justice Department chose not to pursue after a two-year investigation. These charges are baseless, motivated by spite and advanced through testimony bought and paid for by promises of anonymity and immunity. Although USADA alleges a wide-ranging conspiracy extended over more than 16 years, I am the only athlete it has chosen to charge. USADA's malice, its methods, its star-chamber practices, and its decision to punish first and adjudicate later all are at odds with our ideals of fairness and fair play. I have never doped, and, unlike many of my accusers, I have competed as an endurance athlete for 25 years with no spike in performance, passed more than 500 drug tests and never failed one. That USADA ignores this fundamental distinction and charges me instead of the admitted dopers says far more about USADA, its lack of fairness and this vendetta than it does about my guilt or innocence.

USADA's letter, dated June 12, further alleges that Armstrong and five former cycling team associates -- three doctors including the famous Italian physician Michele Ferrari, one trainer and team manager Johan Bruyneel-- engaged in a massive doping conspiracy from 1998-2011, and that "the witnesses to the conduct described in this letter include more than ten (10) cyclists . . ."

The letter specifically alleges that Armstrong used EPO, blood transfusions, testosterone, corticosteroids and masking agents and that he distributed and administered drugs to others.

Armstrong "does not dope," Luskin said in a telephone interview Wednesday. "He hasn't doped. More than 600 consistent tests have proved him not to be a doper. These charges are a product of malice and spite and not evidence . . . nothing else explains the fact . . . they allege an overarching doping conspiracy among four teams over 14 years and Lance is the only rider that gets charged."

Armstrong competed for the US Postal Service team and later the Discovery Channel team from 1998-2005. In 2009, he rode for the Astana Cycling Team and on RadioShack's team in 2010-11.

Luskin said USADA sent Armstrong a letter last week asking him to meet with anti-doping officials. Armstrong declined, believing USADA was not interested in his testimony but rather a confession, Luskin said.

USADA CEO Travis Tygart could not be immediately reached to comment.

Armstrong, who won his last Tour title in 2005, has taken up competition in ironman triathlons, and was scheduled to compete in the Ironman France in Nice on June 24.

Last year, Armstrong's former teammate Tyler Hamilton told "60 Minutes" that he saw Armstrong inject EPO.

Asked what he actually witnessed, Hamilton told Scott Pelley, "I saw it in his refrigerator, you know. I saw him inject it more than one time." (Watch interview at left).