The French anti-doping agency will not press any charges against Lance Armstrong, American star cyclist, for disagreements between him and a drug tester. They decided not to take on any disciplinary procedures against the cyclist and consider his written explanation about the issue.

It can be recalled that Armstrong allegedly delayed the drug testing for 20 minutes when he and the drug tested agreed for him shower before taking his samples for drug testing on March 17. As he was showering, his assistants checked the background and credentials of the drug tester. The agency claimed in this incident that Armstrong did not cooperate in the drug testing and was causing the delay to happen. Armstrong’s camp said otherwise.

Born Lance Edward Gunderson, 37 - year old American cyclist Lance Armstrong is a professional cyclist for UCI Pro Team Astana. He is a seven-time winner for the Tour de France starting from the year 1999 up to 2005. As a professional road racing cyclist, he was the only one to break the previous longest record for cycling which was five consecutive wins. Among the cyclists, he beat Miguel Indurain and Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx and Jacques Anquetil who shared the title of having the longest winning streak in cycling competition.

He has already made a name in the sports industry, receiving a couple of awards. He was awarded Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year by the American Broadcasting Company in 1999. Following this, in 2000, he won the Prince of Asturias Award in Sports. The magazine Sports Illustrated followed in 20002, where he won the title Sportsman of the Year. He is also the recipient of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Overseas Personality Award in 2003. For a 4-year streak, he was named the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year from 2002- 2005. Overlapping with that, from 2003-2006, he was awarded by ESPN its ESPY Award for Best Male athlete.

It can also be recalled that he caught the attention of everyone when he had survived testicular cancer. His tumor metasized to his lungs and brain which caused the need for cancer treatments to these parts. Surgery was done to his brain and testicles with chemotherapy. Previous finding of him showed that his chances were little and his survival shocks the world.

On April 16, Armstrong sent a letter to the AFLD chief, Pierre Brodry explaining about his side on the issue after a report to the anti-doping agency was sent about his violation on anti-doping rules. Pierre Brodry appreciated Armstrong’s move and considered whatever is written in the letter.

The agency then said that all his samples were clean but only blood and urine samples were tested and not the hair samples without any reasons to why this is so.

The formerly retired cyclist, who got back into the cycling world, competed last January 2009. He posted on Twitter, a social networking site “Just got the word from the French agency AFLD on the shower gate incident,” followed by “Case closed, no penalty, all samples clean. Onward.”

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