Friday, September 16, 2005

News Flash

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Worn down by doping scandals an exhausted Lance Armstrong said on Thursday he had decided against a return to competitive cycling.

Angry over recent doping allegations that have appeared in the French sports daily L'Equipe, the seven-times Tour de France winner said recently he might return to racing, the accusations out of France having awoken his competitive side.

Armstrong is being questioned by French authorities after three banned substances were found in his South France hotel room while on vacation after winning the 2005 Tour de France.

The three substances found were toothpaste, soap, and deodorant; all of which have been banned in France for over 75 years.

Responding to reporters, Armstrong's girlfriend, American rocker Sheryl Crowe, said, "We use them every day in America, so we naturally thought they'd be okay in France."

According to reports, French authorities also physically searched Armstrong and discovered several other items that have been rare in France for many years, including a backbone and a testicle.