Armstrong welcomes doping probe

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP):

Lance Armstrong says he will be vindicated by a United States Anti-Doping Agency investigation of claims raised by a report in Sports Illustrated.

Armstrong used Twitter yesterday to suggest that USADA may probe allegations published by the magazine this week in an article titled 'The Case Against Lance Armstrong'.

"Great to hear that USADA is investigating some of SI's claims. I look forward to being vindicated," the seven-time Tour de France winner said.

Armstrong is currently competing in the Tour Down Under in South Australia and has refused to comment on the Sports Illustrated report, other than to say he has nothing to worry about "on any level" from its claims. He would not speak to reporters after the fourth stage yesterday and could not be contacted later in the evening.

"While we can't comment on the specifics of the investigation that UCI and USA Cycling asked us to open last year, we value the confidence all athletes have in the process to ultimately reveal the truth, preserve the integrity of sport, and protect the rights of clean athletes," USADA CEO Travis Tygart wrote in an email to The Associated Press.

Sports Illustrated reported that when Italian authorities raided the home of Armstrong teammate Yaroslav Popovych last November in Italy, they found texts and emails linking their Radio Shack team with Dr. Michele Ferrari as recently as 2009.

Armstrong publicly severed his connection with Ferrari in 2004, amid accusations the doctor aided another rider in using performance-enhancing drugs. Ferrari was convicted and then later cleared of criminal charges on appeal.