(Newser)
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Federal prosecutors have decided against charging Lance Armstrong with any doping-related crimes, despite his public admission that he used all manner of performance-enhancing drugs and techniques, US Attorney Andre Birotte said today. "We made a decision on that case a little over a year ago," Birotte said when asked about Armstrong at an unrelated press conference. "Obviously, we've been well aware of the statements. ... That does not change my view at this time." But he said the government would continue to look into the case, Reuters reports.
Meanwhile, Armstrong's attorney said yesterday that he should not have to repay $12 million in bonuses he earned for winning the Tour de France. "No athlete ever, to my understanding, has ever gone back and paid back his compensation," the attorney told USA Today. "Not Sean Payton or anybody else." The company that insured those bonuses is expected to file a lawsuit this week. SCA Promotions once withheld the bonuses because of the suspicions surrounding Armstrong, and in the resulting lawsuit, Armstrong testified under oath that he'd never used banned substances.
