Lance Armstrong settles $100m lawsuit with US government and former team-mate Floyd Landis
Landis and the Postal Service were pursuing damages on the back of Armstrong’s doping on a team backed by government sponsorship until Armstrong agreed a $5m (£3.5m) settlement
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Lance Armstrong wants to move on with his life after settling a long-running whistle-blower lawsuit with the federal government and former team-mate Floyd Landis.
The US Postal Service – sponsor of the team Armstrong won six of his seven Tour de France titles with – and Landis were seeking $100m (£71m) from Armstrong, who has admitted using performance enhancing drugs during his career.
Now 46, Armstrong vehemently denied allegations of drug taking until a 2013 admission. His confession came after the US Anti-Doping Agency – backed by a testimony from Landis – stripped Armstrong of his Tour titles.
Landis and the Postal Service were pursuing damages on the back of Armstrong’s doping on a team backed by government sponsorship, with the matter set to go to trial on 7 May, until Armstrong agreed a $5m (£3.5m) settlement.
As the original claimant, Landis is eligible to receive 25 per cent of that and reports in America say Armstrong will pay his former team-mates’ legal fees.
“I am glad to resolve this case and move forward with my life,” Armstrong said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to devoting myself to the many great things in my life – my five kids, my wife, my podcast, several exciting writing and film projects, my work as a cancer survivor, and my passion for sports and competition.
“There is a lot to look forward to. I am particularly glad to have made peace with the Postal Service. While I believe that their lawsuit against me was without merit and unfair, I have since 2013 tried to take full responsibility for my mistakes, and make amends wherever possible.
“I rode my heart out for the Postal cycling team, and was always especially proud to wear the red, white and blue eagle on my chest when competing in the Tour de France. Those memories are very real and mean a lot to me.”
PA
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