• Cycling

Armstrong demands USADA 'plays by the rules'

ESPN staff
June 16, 2012
Lance Armstrong has repeatedly protested his innocence © Getty Images
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Lance Armstrong has vented his frustration at the US Anti-Doping Agency [USADA], claiming it is not giving him the information needed to mount a response to fresh doping allegations.

The USADA claims to have collected blood samples taken from him in 2009 and 2010 that were "fully consistent with blood manipulation including EPO use and/or blood transfusions", according to a report in the Washington Post.

Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France champion, has received written notification of these fresh "allegations of anti-doping rule violations" - which supposedly occurred when he was with the United States Postal Service (USPS) cycling team.

The 40-year-old, who retired from professional cycling last year, could be stripped of his Tour titles if found guilty, though the American claims the charges are "baseless" and "motivated by spite".

Armstrong took to Twitter on Saturday to question the USADA over its refusal to provide the information he says he requires in order to respond appropriately to the actions against him. He said: "Dear @usantidoping - we have now sent you THREE letters requesting all the relevant info in order for me to respond to your 'review board'.

"Until now there has been no response, not even an acknowledgement of receipt. The knife cuts both ways - it's time to play by the rules."

Armstrong, who overcame testicular cancer early in his career, won seven consecutive Tour de France titles from 1999 to 2005 while riding for the USPS team and the Discovery Channel team.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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