The United States is seeking to extradite a young Irish man accused of being part of a hacking group known as “The Community” involved in alleged financial fraud and identity theft.

Lance Armstrong said today he was “gratified” the US attorney’s office had decided not to bring charges against him after a nearly two-year investigation into whether the champion cyclist and his teammates ran a doping programme.

A criminal probe of Lance Armstrong and his former US Postal team was closed last night, without the seven-time Tour de France winner being charged over allegations he used performance-enhancing drugs.