USADA Says It Will Move Forward Without Armstrong

Lance Armstrong will not cooperate with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency ahead of its Wednesday deadline for him to testify.

Today was the deadline for the Texan to determine if he would work with USADA in its investigation of doping in professional cycling. If he did, there was a chance his lifetime ban from high-level competition could be reduced to eight years, offering him a chance to compete in triathlons and marathons.

Armstrong will not work with USADA, at least for now, because the agency’s efforts, according to Armstrong attorney Tim Herman, are “selective” and will “demoralize” American riders in a sport that’s largely European.

“Lance is willing to cooperate fully and has been very clear: He will be the first man through the door, and once inside will answer every question, at an international tribunal formed to comprehensively address pro cycling, an almost exclusively European sport,” Herman said in a statement. “We remain hopeful that an international effort will be mounted, and we will do everything we can to facilitate that result. In the meantime, for several reasons, Lance will not participate in USADA’s efforts to selectively conduct American prosecutions that only demonize selected individuals while failing to address the 95 percent of the sport over which USADA has no jurisdiction.”

USADA CEO Travis Tygart said he would move forward with his investigation regardless.

“We have provided Mr. Armstrong several opportunities to assist in our ongoing efforts to clean up the sport of cycling. Following his recent television interview, we again invited him to come in and provide honest information, and he was informed in writing by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that this was the appropriate avenue for him if he wanted to be part of the solution,” Tygart said in a statement. “Over the last few weeks, he has led us to believe that he wanted to come in and assist USADA, but was worried of potential criminal and civil liability if he did so. Today we learned from the media that Mr. Armstrong is choosing not to come in and be truthful and that he will not take the opportunity to work toward righting his wrongs in sport.

“At this time we are moving forward with our investigation without him and we will continue to work closely with WADA and other appropriate and responsible international authorities to fulfill our promise to clean athletes to protect their right to compete on a drug free playing field.”

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