Lance Armstrong under federal investigation for doping-related charges

Back-and-forth comments have clouded the issue, but according to the latest, disgraced U.S. bicyclist Lance Armstrong is facing a federal investigation for various charges related to his doping scandal.

An unnamed but high level source told ABC that “agents are actively investigating Armstrong for obstruction, witness tampering and intimidation.” That statement follows confusion about the state of a federal investigation, after the U.S. Attorney for Southern California, Andre Birotte, said Feb. 5 that he was dropping his criminal inquiry — after two years of investigation, ABC reported.

Newser reports that federal agents reportedly wanted to go forth with an indictment; ABC reported that the unnamed high level source then said, “Birotte does not speak for the federal government as a whole.”

Meanwhile, attorneys for Mr. Armstrong are fighting for his right to keep $12 million in bonuses from Tour de France wins.

“No athlete ever, to my understanding, has ever gone back and paid back his compensation,” Mr. Armstrong’s attorney said, according to a Newser report.

© Copyright 2013 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.