Federal prosecutors have dropped their almost two-year investigation of seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong without filing any charges against the cycling icon.
Insufficient Evidence Against Armstrong
In a statement released Feb. 3, 2012, United States Attorney André Birotte Jr. announced the news:
"[The US Attorney's Office] is closing an investigation into allegations of federal criminal conduct by members and associates of a professional bicycle racing team owned in part by Lance Armstrong."
No reason was given for the dismissal, but typically an investigation is dropped when there's insufficient evidence.
Meanwhile, Armstrong issued a statement commending the Department of Justice decision:
"I am gratified to learn that the U.S. Attorney's Office is closing its investigation. It is the right decision and I commend them for reaching it. I look forward to continuing my life as a father, a competitor, and an advocate in the fight against cancer without this distraction."
US Anti-Doping Body to Continue Investigating
Meanwhile, U.S. anti-doping officials insist they'll continue investigating the doping accusations against Armstrong.
“Unlike the U.S. Attorney, USADA’s job is to protect clean sport rather than enforce specific criminal laws,” said Travis Tygart, chief executive officer of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
“Our investigation into doping in the sport of cycling is continuing and we look forward to obtaining the information developed during the federal investigation.”
Ex-Teammate Described Systematic Doping
While Lance, 40, was vehemently denied he ever doped, several former associates, including ex-teammate Floyd Landis, have accused Armstrong of doping throughout his career, notably during his seven Tour de France wins (1999-2005).
In April 2010, Landis made headlines when he accused Armstrong and other pro cyclists, including their former US Postal teammate George Hincapie, of engaging in systematic doping involving the use of blood transfusions, testosterone patches and injections, among others.
In a strongly-worded letter to cycling officials, Landis, 36, said teammates, cycling officials and doctors all contributed to a shocking culture of drug use.
Floyd alleges he was first introduced to testosterone by team manager Johan Bruyneel (a longtime friend to Lance Armstrong and currently the manager of Armstrong's Radio Shack team) while riding for US Postal in 2002.
Landis says he and teammate Lance had many discussions about doping, specifically the use of the red blood cell booster erythropoietin (EPO).
Floyd recounts one instance in 2004 when the team bus was heading to the hotel after a race, but stopped over on the way for blood transfusions to boost the riders' oxygen capacity. Landis wrote in an email to USA Cycling:
"The driver pretended to have engine trouble and stopped on a remote mountain road for an hour or so so the entire team could have half a liter of blood added. This was the only time that I ever saw the entire team being transfused in plain view of all the other riders and bus driver.
There are many many more details that I have in diaries and am in the process of writing into an intelligible story.
Armstrong has long been the target of doping allegations, but has vehemently denied all charges over the years, saying his past as a cancer survivor makes him all the more careful about using any kind of drug.
Lance: I Have Never Doped
Lance, a seven-time winner of the Tour de France, has also repeatedly pointed out that he has never failed a drug test, but the doping rumors have persisted over the years nonetheless.
In 2006, Landis -- who was once a close friend of Armstrong -- vigorously denied doping after having failed a drug test that year and being stripped of his Tour de France win.
Floyd even went as far as to write a book entitled Positively False, where he strongly disputed his positive drug results and asked for donations so he could wage a costly legal campaign to overturn his ban and clear his name.
From Cancer to Comeback
In October 1996, Armstrong was diagnosed with Stage 3 testicular cancer, which had spread to his lungs, abdomen and brain.
Lance, who underwent chemotherapy and surgery to remove the cancer, was given less than a 50% chance of survival when he was first diagnosed in 1996. He has been cancer-free for the past 14 years.
Armstrong's improbable comeback from cancer patient to seven-time Tour de France champion is one of the most inspiring stories in all of sports.
The Texas-born cycling phenom rebounded from the disease to win an unprecedented seven consecutive Tour de France titles, from 1999 to 2005.
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