Judge has rejected the motion from Lance Armstrong on Monday to stop the lawsuit from U.S. government into trial. The U.S. Postal Service sued the former cyclist for $100 million over the lost of promotional value.
The federal lawsuit against Armstrong will now go into trial as reported by Sports Illustrated. Armstrong former team mate Floyd Landis was the first to file lawsuit in 2010.
U.S. Postal Service joined the lawsuit later, alleged Armstrong to violate his contract by using the performance enhancing drugs. The USPS sought for $100 million in damage claims from Armstrong as the lost of promotional value when the cyclist admitted to use doping.
The 45-year-old former cyclist appeared before judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia last November. During the hearing, his attorney explained the benefit which has been received by the USPS. Armstrong’s attorney, led by Elliot Peters said that USPS had received more than its $32.3 million sponsorship value to Armstrong and his team from 2000 to 2004.
Judge Christopher Cooper generally accepted the pleas from Armstrong’s attorney, according to Washington Post. Armstrong's lawyers argued that the USPS received a substantial benefit when he won Tour de France for seven times consecutive times. Regardless, Judge Cooper in his 37-page ruling wrote that the actual amount damage claims must be determined by jury.
Armstrong has been suspected to use performance enhancing drugs throughout his career. Anti doping authorities around the world had tested him for doping many times, and yet he managed to pass all the tests. In 2010, U.S. federal government launched an investigation to search for evidence of his doping after Landis admitted of doping and accused other cyclists including Armstrong did the same.
He finally admitted his doping in January 2013 in a televised interview. His confession led to the series of lawsuits. He was also banned to cycle for a lifetime and his Tour De France titles were stripped. Watch the report from USA Today regarding the federal judge decision on Armstrong $100 million case below:
