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USADA Charges Lance Armstrong With Doping

Updated: Wednesday, June 13 2012, 09:51 PM CDT

The Washington Post is reporting that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency filed formal doping charges against Lance Armstrong on Tuesday.

The formal charges mean Armstrong is banned immediately from competition in triathlons, a sport he took up, and could cost him his seven Tour de France titles, if he’s found guilty of the charges.

The article in the Washington Post says a 15-page letter by the USADA, dated June 12, 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.”

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 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.

The USADA 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, but does not have authority to bring criminal charges.

Lance Armstrong released this response to the new allegations on his website -

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.

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.USADA Charges Lance Armstrong With Doping