Door not closed on Armstrong criminal charge
DISGRACED former cyclist Lance Armstrong may yet face criminal charges in his native America, despite an attorney’s suggestion to the contrary, following his doping admissions.
Armstrong is under investigation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), who could probe allegations he obstructed justice and intimidated witnesses, according to US media.
Attorney Andre Birotte dropped a two-year investigation into Armstrong last year and insisted on Tuesday that it would not be revived, despite the 41-year-old last month confessing to cheating in all of his seven Tour de France wins.
But ABC News, citing an unnamed source, reported that federal agents were still looking into claims of “obstruction, witness tampering and intimidation” against the Texan.
FDA spokesperson Sarah Clark-Lynn appeared to confirm an investigation was indeed active in remarks published yesterday by USA Today.
“When the US Attorney’s Office declines to prosecute an individual or entity, typically law enforcement agencies do not pursue further investigative activities,” she was quoted as saying. “That said, this is an ongoing matter for the agency and I cannot comment further.”
Armstrong, who was stripped of his titles and banned from competitive sport last year, is already facing a number of lawsuits.
Insurance company SCA Promotions is demanding the return of $12m (£7.5m) relating to bonuses he was paid for multiple Tour de France victories, while the Sunday Times newspaper is suing Armstrong for up to £1m over a libel settlement to him in 2004.