The decision means that Armstrong, a cancer survivor who has always vehemently denied using performance-enhacing drugs, will not face any charges following the two-year-long probe. 

US Attorney Andre Birotte, in a brief written statement, announced simply that his office was "closing an investigation into members and associates of a bicycle racing team owned in part by Lance Armstrong." 

Prosecutors had been looking into whether the team had defrauded its sponsor, the US Postal Service, by doping. 

"I am gratified to learn that the US Attorney's Office is closing its investigation," said Armstrong, 40.

"It is the right decision and I commend them for reaching it.

"I look forward to continuing my life as a father, a competitor, and an advocate in the fight against cancer without this distraction."

Birotte said that he was making a public announcement that the investigation had been closed because of "numerous reports about the investigation in media outlets around the world."

But United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) chief executive Travis Tygart warned that its investigation into cycling - including Armstrong - was still ongoing.

"Unlike the US Attorney, USADA's job is to protect clean sport rather than enforce specific criminal laws," Tygart said.

"Our investigation into doping in the sport of cycling is continuing and we look forward to obtaining the information developed during the Federal investigation."

Former teammate and Floyd Landis (pictured right with Armstrong), stripped of the Tour de France title in 2010 after testing positive for testosterone, accused Armstrong not only of using performance-enhancing drugs but teaching others how to avoid being caught.

Landis said he witnessed some of his teammates, including Armstrong, use illegal drugs, including once on a team bus during a race, to boost performance and endurance.

The wife of former Armstrong teammate Frankie Andreu has also said that Armstrong admitted to using illegal drugs.

In a sworn deposition, Betsy Andreu said Armstrong, when asked by doctors at Indiana University Medical Center whether he had used performance-enhancing drugs, replied yes and listed Erythropoietin (EPO), growth hormone, cortisone, steroids and testosterone.

Armstrong also has had ties to controversial Italian doctor Michele Ferrari, who has publicly defended the use of EPO but has denied helping athletes enhance performance through doping.

Earlier accusations that the American had used EPO during the 1999 Tour de France led to a 2006 investigation supported by the UCI that cleared Armstrong of doping.

The investigation followed allegations published by the French newspaper L'Equipe that six of his urine samples from the 1999 Tour showed traces of EPO. 

"The legal system failed us," said Betsy Andreu.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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