Sports

Lance Armstrong Accused by French Anti-Doping Agency

by Blaine Metzgar | April 9, 2009 at 12:20 pm

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Lance Armstrong was recently accused by the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) of breaking rules and protocol during an unannounced test last month. Armstrong is facing potential punishment for the accusations.

According to a statement issued by the AFLD, the 37-year-old American "did not meet the obligation to remain under the direct and permanent observation" of the tester, taking a 20-minute shower before giving samples of blood, urine and hair.

Armstrong was training in the South of France on March 17 when the testing and alleged breach of rules took place. The famed cyclist has denied any such allegations against him and insisted that the identity of the tester be made known.

"I had never heard of labs or governments doing drug testing and I had no idea who this guy was or whether he was telling the truth," he said in a statement released on the official Web site of his Astana team.

"We asked the tester for evidence of his authority. We looked at his papers but they were far from clear or impressive and we still had significant questions about who he was or for whom he worked."

"We told the tester we wanted to check with the UCI to confirm who he was and to make sure he wasn't just some French guy with a backpack and some equipment to take my blood and urine."

No traces of drugs were found when they tested Armstong's samples but the agency claims that the seven-time Tour de France winner broke testing procedures, claiming "Armstrong did not respect the obligation to remain under the direct and permanent observation of the tester."

The AFLD, which first raised the issue on Monday, says it may now impose sanctions on the American rider, but didn't indicate what they would be.

Armstrong tweeted about the incident saying, "So I'm clear -- never complaining about these tests. Def part of the job. Feel targeted? Of course. But anything to prove I'm clean."

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