The US Anti-Doping Agency has brought formal doping charges against American cyclist Lance Armstrong and he has been immediately banned from competition in triathlons as a result.
The Washington Post cited a 15-page charging letter by the USADA while Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France winner, denies the charges.
Armstrong's issued a statement saying he's never doped, and, unlike many of his accusers, has competed as an endurance athlete for 25 years with no spike in performance, passed more than 500 drug tests and never failed one.
He also lashed out at USADA as an organisation that's singling him out and is "largely funded by taxpayer dollars but governed only by self-written rules" which intends to "again dredge up discredited allegations dating back more than 16 years".
Armstrong says the charges are baseless and the witnesses are the same as the Justice Department chose not to pursue after a two-year investigation.
