Skip navigation
Listen now:
NBC Sports: The Erik Kuselias Show

Feds investigating Armstrong for several crimes

Disgraced ex-Tour champ suspected of obstruction, witness tampering and intimidation

Image: Lance Armstrong Getty Images
Lance Armstrong is currently banned for life by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which issued a February 6 deadline for him to tell all, under oath, or lose any possibility of a lesser sentence.

Federal investigators are investigating disgraced Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong for crimes including obstruction, witness tampering and intimidation, related to his previous criminal investigation, ABC News reported Tuesday.

ABC’s Neal Karlinsky reported that a high-level source said that the investigation is being run out of another office than that of U.S. Attorney for Southern California Andre Birotte, the man who suddenly dropped the previous Department of Justice investigation into Armstrong on the Friday before the Super Bowl last year.

Kansas City Royals v Boston Red Sox
Getty Images
The Week in Sports Pictures

The nation grieved for those hurt, killed and affected by the Boston Marathon bombings. After one of the suspects was caught on Friday — following a day-long lockdown and manhunt — sports returned to Boston over the weekend.

Birotte’s office spent nearly two years investigating Armstrong for crimes reportedly including drug distribution, fraud and conspiracy. After he dropped the case without explanation, sources said that agents had recommended an indictment and did not know why the case was suddenly dropped.

Coincidentally, Birotte broke his yearlong silence regarding the controversial case for the first time publicly on Tuesday during a Department of Justice news conference on another matter.

“Obviously we’ve been well aware of the statements that have been made by Mr. Armstrong and other media reports,” Birotte said. “That has not changed my view at this time. Obviously, we’ll consider, we’ll continue to look at the situation, but that hasn’t changed our view as I stand here today.”

The source, who spoke to ABC on the condition of anonymity, said that Birotte is not in the loop on the current criminal inquiry, which is being run out of another office, saying “Birotte does not speak for the federal government as a whole,” adding, “agents are actively investigating Armstrong for obstruction, witness tampering and intimidation.”

According to the ABC report, federal investigators are not concerned Armstrong’s use of performance-enhancing drugs, but rather his allegedly threatening and interfering with potential witnesses.

Armstrong is currently banned for life by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which issued a February 6 deadline for him to tell all, under oath, or lose any possibility of a lesser sentence.

© 2011 Competitor Group, Inc.

advertisement
More news
Sweet 16 for Intxausti

Benat Intxausti won the 16th stage of the Giro d'Italia on Tuesday, and favorite Vincenzo Nibali retained the overall lead as the race entered the final week.

CYCLING-ITA-TOUR
NBC Sports
Final week lookahead

  Dan Lloyd of Team IG-Sigma gives an inside look at the final week of the Giro d'Italia and what awaits top riders.

Georges's failed drugs test confirmed by B sample

PARIS (Reuters) - An analysis of Sylvain Georges's B sample has confirmed his failed drugs test during the Giro d'Italia, the International Cycling Union (UCI) said on Tuesday.

Slideshow
Image: Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde of the Movistar team celebrates while crossing the finish line to win the 17th stage of the Tour de France 2012, Thursday, July 19.
  The road to Paris
The best images from the 2012 Tour de France.

more photos

Slideshow
A fan, disguised as a Superman character
  Fans of the Tour de France
Cycling fans show their love for the Tour in many creative ways.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Italy's Davide Vigano receive medical as
  Crashes of the Tour de France
Check out some of the nasty crashes from the 2012 Tour de France.

NBCSports.com