Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong was given major support in his fight against doping allegations on Friday by the International Cycling Union (UCI) and a Texas legal triumph.
Capping a week that included his engagement to rock singer Sheryl Crow and hints at a possible 2006 return from retirement, Armstrong had his denials of taking performance-enhancing drugs strongly bolstered in separate findings.
A UCI statement said no action will be taken against Armstrong over claims by the French sports daily L’Equipe that his 1999 urine samples tested positive for the banned blood booster erythropoietin (EPO).
Cycling’s world governing body found nothing that could be used as proof of wrongdoing by Armstrong and no reason to condemn him, wondering instead who leaked Armstrong’s identity and why his sample was chosen for testing.
”I’m pleased the UCI is investigating this entire matter thoroughly because any professional investigation will reveal that the allegations made by a French sports tabloid have no basis, because I never used any performance-enhancing drugs,” Armstrong said in a statement.
”I’m pleased that the UCI seems to be asking many of the right questions.”
Armstrong, who turns 34 on September 18, also won a summary judgement in a Texas court case that dismissed charges Armstrong defrauded and breached a contract with his former personal assistant, Mike Anderson.
The legal fight included Anderson claims that he found items in a Spanish apartment linking Armstrong to banned substances and that Armstrong avoided a 2004 random doping test.
”This totally vindicates Lance’s position. He’s pleased,” said Bill Stapleton, a lawyer for Armstrong. ”Today vindicates Lance and points out that the accusations he made against Lance were without merit in an American court.
”The Anderson ruling is very significant in that he has been someone who has been given credibility in newspapers in France like Le Monde and L’Equipe.”
Armstrong’s engagement to Crow was announced on Monday, a day before the United States cycling legend stated that he might seek an eighth consecutive Tour victory next July as a result of the latest accusations.
”The recent smear campaign out of France has awoken my competitive side,” Armstrong said. ”I’m not willing to put a percentage on the chances, but I will no longer rule it out.” — Sapa-AFP