Armstrong cleared for Tour de France as test-result furore ends

LANCE ARMSTRONG will not face any penalty from the French anti-doping agency AFLD after they accused him of failing to fully comply with an official.

He could have faced a suspension after leaving the sight of an official who visited him at home in France last month to collect samples.

However, the AFLD issued a statement yesterday to say no action would be taken after Armstrong wrote a letter explaining his actions.

“The AFLD has decided to take into account the written explanation and not initiate any disciplinary proceedings,” the statement read.

The AFLD added that Armstrong’s test results from that day were clean. The anti-doping agency had said the US cyclist did not fully co-operate with a drug tester who showed up at Armstrong’s home in France to collect blood, urine and hair samples on 17 March.

He had returned from a training ride to find a doping official at his French home.

The Astana rider asked for the official’s credentials to be confirmed by world governing body UCI and, while this was going on, he was given permission by the official to take a shower.

“We asked the official to wait outside while we checked to see if he was legitimate,” said Armstrong at the time.

Armstrong had said he feared the agency would ban him from taking part in this year’s Tour, his first after a three-year absence. The seven-time Tour de France champion, writing on his Twitter account, revealed his relief.

“Just got the word from the French agency AFLD on the shower-gate incident,” said Armstrong. “Case closed, no penalty, all samples clean. Onward.” Armstrong had feared he could receive a ban from competing in this year’s Tour, the central target of his comeback from retirement.

The seven-time champion, who has undergone 24 drug tests since returning to the sport in September last year, had become increasingly annoyed with the AFLD.