Miguel Indurain calls probe 'strange'

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Armstrong Defends Himself Against Doping Allegations

Outside the Lines Interview with Lance Armstrong: June 26, 2006Tags: OTL, Outside The Lines, Lance Armstrong

Armstrong Defends Himself Against Doping Allegations

Former champion Miguel Indurain says Lance Armstrong should keep his seven Tour de France titles until drug charges are proven by a single authority recognized by everyone in the sport.

Five-time Tour winner Indurain says "until an organization recognized by all decides to the contrary, the Tour victories are his."

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AP Photo/David ZalubowskiOne day after he was banned from professional cycling by the USADA, Lance Armstrong competed in the Power of Four mountain bike race Saturday in Aspen, Colo.

Indurain, who won five straight Tours from 1991-95, says there are too many national and international bodies with differing interests in the fight against doping.

Indurain also calls the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's case against Armstrong "strange," claiming its pursuit of the American was "without scruples."

The Spanish cyclist, writing in Saturday's Marca newspaper, says he isn't surprised Armstrong chose not to contest charges from USADA, which also banned him from professional cycling.

Armstrong, meanwhile, was back in his element -- on a bike and in a race -- for a few hours Saturday in Aspen, Colo., where he was competing in a mountain bike competition.

Asked if he was ready, Armstrong smiled and said, "I hope so. ... This is going to be hard for all of us."

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