Armstrong cleared to race in Tour de France
Good news for all you cycling bettors on WagerWeb.com: You will see Lance Armstrong in the 2009 Tour de France, it appears.
France’s anti-doping agency (AFLD) said Friday it will not seek sanctions against over a dispute with a drug tester. The agency said in a statement that it “decided to take into consideration the athlete’s written explanations” and will not open disciplinary procedures.
At issue was a 20-minute delay when Armstrong said a drug tester who showed up on March 17 to collect blood, urine and hair samples agreed to let him shower while the American rider’s assistants checked the tester’s credentials.
Armstrong claimed he was given permission to shower by the official and pointed out that he had undergone 24 drug tests since his comeback to professional racing in September last year.
The AFLD added that Armstrong’s test results from that day were clean: “The analysis of the urine and blood samples from Mr. Lance Armstrong did not reveal any abnormality. His hair sample has not been tested.”
Writing on his Twitter account, the seven-time Tour de France winner wrote: “Just got the word from the French agency AFLD on the shower-gate incident. Case closed, no penalty, all samples clean. Onward.”
Earlier this month the ALFD announced that it had jurisdiction to open disciplinary hearings against Armstrong, potentially bringing his participation in this year’s Tour de France into question. Armstrong then accused the French of working to prevent him from racing in this year’s Tour, which begins in early July.
Pat McQuaid, the president of cycling’s governing body (UCI), accused the AFLD of “not acting very professionally in this case.”
Armstrong is still recovering from surgery after breaking his collar bone but still hopes to race in the Tour of Italy, which starts on May 9. He is currently training in Colorado.
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