AS LAWSUIT LOOMS USADA GRANT ARMSTRONG EXTENSION
WASHINGTON, Feb 6, 2013 (AFP) - Lance Armstrong, facing a multi-million-dollar lawsuit and reportedly the subject of a new criminal probe, got a bit of breathing room on Wednesday from the US Anti-Doping Agency.
USADA gave him two more weeks to cooperate with anti-doping authorities by testifying under oath, now that Armstrong has admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs.Dallas insurance company SCA Promotions said it would file a $12 million lawsuit against Armstrong over bonuses it paid to him for multiple Tour de France victories.
The company had asked Armstrong to repay the money after he was stripped last year of his record seven Tour de France titles and banned for life after USADA found him to be the key figure in a sophisticated doping scheme on his US Postal Service teams.“I can now confirm that we are filing tomorrow (Thursday),” SCA attorney Jeff Dorough told AFP on Wednesday. “We think there are several avenues for us to seek recovery on this.”Armstrong sued SCA and won after the company delayed his 2005 bonus payment because of reports in Europe that the American used performance-enhancing drugs.
“Armstrong and his lawyers said flat-out at that time that if he was ever stripped of the titles they would pay the money back,” Dorough said. “We're just seeking to hold them to their promises.”That might not be the only legal battle looming for Armstrong now that he has admitted via a confessioal TV interview with Oprah Winfrey that he did dope during all seven of his Tour de France triumphs.ABC News reported Wednesday that federal agents are investigating Armstrong for crimes including obstruction, witness tampering and intimidation.
Citing an anonymous source, ABC News said the current probe is focused on different charges from those previously investigated in a federal probe that was dropped last year.