Lance Armstong refuses to help USADA clean up cycling

Zeenews Sports Bureau

Washington: Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong failed to meet anti-doping investigators before his Wednesday deadline, turning down the opportunity to help the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in their bid to clean up the much-maligned sport of cycling. Armstrong, who was stripped of his 7 Tour de France titles following the revelation that he’d taken drugs, had himself admitted to doping in an interview with Oprah Winfrey last month. He also mentioned that he’d like to help rid the sport of drugs. Offered the opportunity by USADA to come forward and tell them what he knew about it all, aiding them clean up the sport, Armstrong declined the invitation, prompting further questions on his resolve and confessions. Armstrong`s lawyer Tim Herman issued a statement on February 20, saying that the former cyclist still had poblems with USADA, who had exposed him for the drug cheat he admitted to being much later, and stripping him of his seven Tour de France titles. "Following his (Armstrong`s) 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," USADA chief Travis 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." The USADA went on to say that they will rid the sport of drugs with or without Armstrong’s help and the current situation will not deter them from fulfilling their “promise to clean athletes to protect their right to compete on a drug free playing field.”