Lance Armstrong To Compete In Masters Swim Meet

Lance Armstrong is back to racing, but this time he’ll be competing against middle-aged swimmers, Austin’s Statesman.com reports.

Lance Armstrong, who was stripped of his biggest cycling achievements last year because of doping charges, will compete at the Masters South Central Zone Swimming Championships this weekend. The meet is hosted by Longhorn Aquatics at the Jamail Texas Swim Center.

U.S. Masters Swimming isn’t under the drug testing umbrella of the U.S. Anti Doping Agency, which gave Armstrong a lifetime ban from competition.

Rob Butcher, the executive director of masters swimming, told the American-Statesman that no one has filed a grievance objecting to Armstrong competing.

“The purpose of our organization is to encourage adults to swim,” Butcher said.

The organization currently has members from age 18 to 104. Masters swimming does not drug test. There is a code of conduct the swimmers must follow, but it pertains to that particular sport.

Armstrong, 41, has entered the meet’s three longest races: the 500, 1,000- and 1,650-yard freestyles.

Read more: Statesman.com

UPDATE 4/4/13: Armstrong has withdrawn from the meet due to objection from FINA.