Lance Armstrong's Team Denies Doping

P A R I S, France, Nov. 8 -- The head of the U.S. Postal Service cycling team —under investigation in France for possible doping during the 2000Tour de France — says he is “absolutely convinced” that hisriders respected anti-doping rules, according to a statementreceived today.

The team’s star-rider Lance Armstrong won the July Tour,cycling’s premier competition, for the second straight year.

French judicial sources said Tuesday that the prosecutor’soffice opened a preliminary investigation on Oct. 18 into possibledoping following an anonymous tip.

Manager Insists Compliance

A statement from U.S. Postal Service General Manager MarkGorski, dated Tuesday but received here today, said that he hadlearned of the investigation from the media, and discussed theissue with team sports director Johan Bruyneel and the medicalstaff.

“I … am absolutely convinced that there were noimproprieties,” the statement said.

“If there is an official inquiry, we are confident that it willfind that the team was in full compliance with the strictguidelines” of the International Cycling Union, or UCI.

The statement reiterated that the team adheres to the UCI’s“zero-tolerance policy” concerning use of banned substances.

Bruyneel told The Associated Press on Tuesday that neither henor any member of the team in the United States has been approachedby French officials about an investigation.

“Of course, I continue to deny all doping allegations,” hesaid.

Repeated Cycling Scandals

Armstrong, who recovered from testicular cancer to become theTour’s two-time winner, has been hounded by allegations that heused performance-enhancing drugs.

The Tour was shaken by a drug scandal in 1998, and the Festinateam was expelled when its physiotherapist was caught with a stashof drugs in a team car. Revelations of widespread drug use in thecycling world came out at a trial of some Festina members thatended Tuesday.