Lance Armstrong faces fresh doping charges from USADA

The letter specifically alleges that “multiple riders with firsthand knowledge” will testify that Armstrong used EPO — shorthand for erythropoietin, an endurance-boosting drug — blood transfusions, testosterone and masking agents, and that he distributed and administered drugs to other cyclists from 1998 to 2005. The letter alleges that numerous witnesses will testify that Armstrong also used human growth hormone before 1996.

“These charges are a product of malice and spite and not evidence,” Robert D. Luskin, Armstrong’s Washington-based attorney, said in a telephone interview Wednesday. “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.”

Video

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency is bringing doping charges against seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, threatening to strip his victories in those storied cycling races.

More on Lance Armstrong

Source: Armstrong talked confession

Liz Clarke

Disgraced cyclist authorized overtures to USADA about admitting doping, but dialogue currently closed.

Why I’m not angry at Armstrong

Sally Jenkins

COLUMN | Exposure of cyclist’s use of performance enhancers doesn’t diminish him in eyes of his co-author.

USADA’s decision on disqualification and ineligibility of Lance Armstong

The complete USADA document, which includes background, discussion of evidence, scientific evidence and conclusions.

Lance Armstrong’s legacy still in play

Rick Maese

The U.S. anti-doping agency has moved to strip him of his titles, but the long-term impact of the decision on his legacy and foundation remains unclear.

OPINION | Armstrong case reeks of hypocrisy

Sally Jenkins

OPINION | Whether Lance Armstrong doped or not, the anti-doping process is broken and should be jettisoned.

USADA says it stripped Armstrong of titles, banned him from cycling

Rick Maese

USADA has banned cyclist Lance Armstrong for life, stripped him of his Tour de France titles after he dropped his fight against doping charges.

Armstrong’s Statement of Aug. 23, 2012

On August 23, 2012 Lance Armstrong released a statement that he will stop fighting allegations that he used banned substances during his stellar career.

USADA chief executive Travis Tygart said in a statement that “we do not choose whether or not we do our job based on outside pressures, intimidation or for any reason other than the evidence.”

Tygart also said: “As in every USADA case, all named individuals are presumed innocent. . . . If a hearing is ultimately held then it is an independent panel of arbitrators, not USADA that determines whether or not these individuals have committed anti-doping rule violations as alleged.”

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

The USADA letter further claims that Martial Saugy, the director of an anti-doping lab in Switzerland, stated that Armstrong’s urine sample results from the 2001 Tour of Switzerland indicated EPO use.

Saugy told The Post last year, however, that Armstrong’s sample was merely “suspicious,” a designation that meant it could not be called positive. Further analysis with modern methods might bring clarity, Saugy said, but the sample no longer exists.

“We did not do the additional analysis. It will never be sufficient to say, in fact, it was positive,” Saugy said in an interview. “I will never go in front of a court with that type of thing.”

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. In its letter, USADA said “with the exception of Mr. Armstrong, every other U.S. rider contacted by USADA regarding doping in cycling agreed to meet with USADA.”

Though the World Anti-Doping Agency places an eight-year statute of limitations on doping allegations, USADA argues in its letter that evidence of banned acts outside of the eight-year limit can be used to corroborate evidence within the limit, and the statute of limitations can be waived when the alleged violations were fraudulently concealed.

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

More on Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong will not face charges as federal doping investigation is shut down

Video: Prosecutors close Lance Armstrong inquiry, no charges

End of Lance Armstrong probe raises questions about media’s reporting