USADA grants Armstrong 30-day 'extension' to contest dope charges

Wellington, July 12 (ANI): The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has granted champion cyclist Lance Armstrong an extension of up to 30 days to contest the dope charges while the seven-time Tour de France winner challenges the case in federal court.

The move removes the Saturday deadline for Armstrong to either send the case to arbitration or accept sanctions from USADA, which would likely include a lifetime ban from cycling and other sports along with stripping the Tour titles he won from 1999-2005.

Armstrong had reportedly re-filed a federal lawsuit against the USADA, hours after the agency issued life bans against three of his former cycling associates and wanted a federal judge to issue a temporary injunction against the anti-doping agency, which was pushing forward with charges against him for being part of a major doping conspiracy.

Granted the extension, Armstrong attorney Tim Herman on Wednesday withdrew a request for a temporary restraining order while Judge Sam Sparks reviews the complaint and a request for an injunction.

Travis Tygart, USADA's CEO, predicted Armstrong's lawsuit will be dismissed.

"USADA believes this lawsuit, like previous lawsuits aimed at concealing the truth, is without merit and is confident the court will continue to uphold the established rules which are compliant with federal law and were approved by athletes, the U.S. Olympic Committee, and all Olympic sports organizations," Stuffz.co.nz quoted Tygart, as saying, in a statement.

The USADA accused Armstorng and some of his team staff to be a part of the group of six, in a doping conspiracy during his years as Tour de France champion (1996-2001).

Armstrong, who claims to have taken more than 500 drug tests in his career without ever testing positive, could be stripped of his Tour de France triumphs and banned from the sport for life, if convicted. (ANI)