Lance Armstrong Faces New Doping Charges from USADA

According to a report in the Washington Post, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency brought formal doping charges against former cyclist Lance Armstrong in a move that could cost him his seven Tour de France titles.

Armstrong, who retired from cycling last year, could face a lifetime ban from the sport if he is found guilty of having used performance-enhancing drugs.

As a result of the formal charges, Armstrong has been immediately banned from competition in triathlons, a sport he took up after his retirement from cycling in 2011.

In the 15-page charging letter obtained by The Post, USADA made previously unpublicized allegations against Armstrong, alleging it collected blood samples from Armstrong in 2009 and 2010 that were “fully consistent with blood ma­nipu­la­tion including EPO use and/or blood transfusions.” Armstrong has never tested positive.

The charges from USADA come just months after federal prosecutors closed a two-year criminal investigation of Armstrong without indicting him.

Armstrong competed for the U.S. Postal Service team and later the Discovery Channel team from 1998-2005. In 2009, he rode for the Astana Cycling Team and on RadioShack’s team in 2010-11.