Armstrong: Immunity report confirms 'vendetta'

ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this file photo, cyclist Lance Armstrong of Austin, Texas, walks out of the Tour de France's anti-doping control bus after the 16th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Les Deux Alpes and La Plagne, French Alps.

ROUEN, France >> Lance Armstrong accused U.S Anti-Doping Agency chief executive Travis Tygart on Thursday of waging a "vendetta" against him following reports five former teammates have received reduced suspensions after admitting to doping in return for testifying against the seven-time Tour de France champion.

"So let me get this straight ... come in and tell them exactly what they wanted to hear and you get complete immunity AND anonymity? I never got that offer," Armstrong wrote in an email to The Associated Press. "This isn't about Tygart wanting to clean up cycling rather it's just a plain ol' selective prosecution that reeks of vendetta."

The Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported that Armstrong's former teammates have been given six-month bans that begin in late September. Citing "well-informed sources," the paper identified them as Jonathan Vaughters, George Hincapie, Levi Leipheimer, David Zabriskie and Christian Vande Velde.

Vaughters, currently a team director at Garmin-Sharp's cycling team, said at the start of Thursday's fifth stage that the report is "completely untrue." Garmin-Sharp's parent company, Slipstream, later supported Vaughters' denial in a statement.

"We can confirm that our Tour team is entirely focused on the Tour and media reports of suspensions are untrue," the company said.

USADA wouldn't confirm the De Telegraaf report but released a statement warning that those named could be subject to "unnecessary scrutiny, threats and intimidation."

"Any attempt to circumvent the proper procedures in order to bully or silence people who may or may not be witnesses cannot be tolerated," the statement said.