Armstrong blasts dope charges as "long on stale allegations" and "short on evidence"

Washington, June 23 (ANI): Cycling champ Lance Armstrong filed a scathing response on Friday over the dope allegations against him and accused the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency of violating its own rules and breaking federal law during its investigation.

The USADA had accused the seven time Tour de France winner of using performance-enhancing drugs and other improper methods to win cycling's premiere event, the Tour de France, from 1999-2005.

According to CBS News, Friday was the deadline for Armstrong to respond to USADA's warning that charges were pending before his case moves to the next stage.

In their 11-page document, Armstrong's attorneys complained that they still haven't been allowed to see the evidence against him, including witness names and any expert analysis to support USADA's claim that the 2009 and 2010 blood tests are "fully consistent" with blood doping.

The letter said USADA's case is "long on stale allegations disproved long ago and short on evidence" and "offensive to any notions of due process."

Armstrong's case now goes to a three-person USADA review board, which will decide if there is enough evidence to support the charges. If USADA files formal charges, the case could go to a three-person arbitration panel by November.

"The Review Board must recommend that this case not move forward," the letter said.

Armstrong, who denied doping and cited that he has never failed a drug test, could be stripped of his titles and be banned from cycling. (ANI)