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The 40-year-old Armstrong was training for a June 24 triathlon in France, but was banned Wednesday when the new allegations were announced. He said Thursday he was returning to the United States, then decided to stay with hopes that triathlon officials would change their mind.
Jessica Weidensall, spokeswoman for World Triathlon Corp., which runs the Ironman competition, said race officials would announce an update on Armstrong's status on Friday.
Luskin's letter notes that the blood samples collected in 2009 and 2010 -- when Armstrong came out of retirement to race again in the Tour -- didn't result in positive drug tests at the time.
"As you well know ... he successfully passed every test administered to him during that period, as he has passed every test that was ever administered," Luskin wrote.
Pierre Bordry, who headed the French anti-doping agency from 2004 to 2010, said the USADA action was important to help defend the image of the Tour de France.
"It shows there's no amnesty," said Bordry, who presided over the agency, known as the AFLD, during one of the most scandal-ridden eras in the long history of doping on the Tour.
He said that among nearly all of the top cyclists during Armstrong's era, "he's the only one who was never penalized. Maybe he did nothing wrong, but it needs to be shown."
"The worst thing is to not resolve the problems. Either he doped or he didn't, but we have to have the answer," he said. "I think the American agency wants to show -- as it has with several other athletes -- that the United States, like other countries, fights against doping. It's a strong signal."
[Associated Press;
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