Lance Armstrong could be forced to forfeit his seven Tour de France titles after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency charged him with doping, the Washington Post reported Wednesday, citing a letter sent to Armstrong and others.
Armstrong was immediately banned from competition in triathlons because of the charges. He has been competing in triathlons as a professional since retiring from cycling in 2011.
USADA said in the letter it collected blood samples from Armstrong in 2009 and 2010 that were "fully consistent with blood manipulation including EPO use and/or blood transfusions," the Post reported.
Armstrong, who has never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, denied the latest charges.
"I have never doped, and, unlike many of my accusers, I have competed as an endurance athlete for 25 years with no spike in performance, passed more than 500 drug tests and never failed one," he said in a statement.
USADA's letter charges Armstrong and five others, including three doctors and team manger Johan Bruyneel, with engaging in a massive doping conspiracy from 1998-2011, the Washington Post reported.
The agency alleges that Armstrong used EPO, blood transfusions, testosterone, steroids and masking agents, the Post reported, citing the letter. It also alleges that he administered drugs to others.
The agency, which oversees anti-doping in Olympic sports in the United States, was empowered to bring charges that could lead to suspension from competition and the rescinding of awards but did not have the authority to bring criminal charges.
Armstrong's attorney, Robert D. Luskin, told the Washington Post that the charges "are a product of malice and spite and not evidence. ... They allege an overarching doping conspiracy among four teams over 14 years, and Lance is the only rider that gets charged.”
A spokesman for the USADA was not immediately available to comment.
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