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Lance fires back at drug charges in new book

Armstrong says recycled allegations simply trying to ‘sully my reputation’

Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong said doping charges leveled in a new book by Irish writer David Walsh are recycled allegations designed to “cash in on my name and sully my reputation.”

Addressing the soon-to-be-published book, “From Lance to Landis,” Armstrong said in a statement released Wednesday, “This latest attack will be no different than the first two. ...

“I responded in court to these allegations, most of which are made by a handful of grudge holders, axe grinders, and a so-called ’expert’ whose graduate degree turned out to be by way of correspondence courses — and I proved them false,” Armstrong said. “I was vindicated yet again.”

Walsh co-authored L.A. Confidential: The Secrets of Lance Armstrong” in 2004 with French writer Pierre Ballester and a follow-up version, “L.A. Official,” last October. That book, as well as much of the material in the new book, is based on testimony given in a legal dispute between Armstrong and a Dallas-based company that had a bonus contract with the cyclist.

SCA Promotions sold an insurance policy to Tailwind Sports — in which Armstrong was part-owner — to pay a $5 million bonus if the American cyclist won his sixth Tour de France in 2004. Armstrong sued SCA after the promotion firm refused to pay the bonus, citing allegations in Walsh’s first book that the cyclist had used performance-enhancing drugs to win his sport’s most-grueling test.

After a panel of arbitrators ruled the suit had merit and heard testimony in the matter, the cyclist reached a $7.5 million settlement with SCA.

The panel never ruled directly on the doping allegations. But Armstrong contends Walsh is motivated by a personal dislike for him and paid a source, former U.S. Postal Service masseuse Emma O’Reilly, for an interview and other information in “L.A. Confidential.”

He also charged that Walsh brought the book out now “to cash in on my name and sully my reputation.” Armstrong retired after his 2005 victory, but the doping controversy still lingers. American Floyd Landis, the 2006 Tour winner, tested positive for synthetic testosterone and is awaiting a decision from an arbitration panel on whether the victory will stand.

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“Trying to jump on the bandwagon of current publicity surrounding cycling, Walsh now issues a recycled version of two earlier French books that were likewise founded upon a demonstrably false string of sensational, untrue and fabricated allegations,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong has repeatedly denied doping allegations against him both in court and the public arena. He did so again in Wednesday’s statement.

“I raced clean. I won clean,” he said. “I am the most tested athlete in the history of sports. I have defended myself and my reputation and won every court case to prove I was clean.”

© 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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