Lance prosecution ‘unlikely’

A lawyer who questioned Lance Armstrong under oath believes the disgraced cyclist will avoid criminal prosecution for lying following his belated confession to using performance-enhancing drugs.

Armstrong admitted to doping during his record run of seven Tour de France wins, from 1999 to 2005, in a television interview with Oprah Winfrey last week, contradicting testimony he gave Dallas-based lawyer Jeff Tillotson in November 2005.

The long-awaited public admission opens up the 41-year-old Texan to a host of legal action. The passage of time means criminal charges of perjury are unlikely, but Tillotson’s clients, SCA Promotions is seeking to recoup $12 million (€9m) in prize money it paid Armstrong after losing its case more than seven years ago.