Lance Armstrong Lashes Back at Government

Lance Armstrong is disputing a demand that he pay back more than $32 million the government alleges he took from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The government claims the contract between Armstrong and USPS was predicated on a “contractual promise to play fair and abide by the rules — including the rules against doping,” according to U.S. attorney Ronald Machen Jr., and that Armstrong broke that promise by using performance enhancing drugs.

Armstrong fought back by saying the government failed to show he had a …

February 12, 2014 Doping / MLB

A-Rod Forfeits in Fight with MLB Over Suspension; Drops Suit Against League

Recently, arbitrator Frederic Horowitz reduced the 211-game suspension of Yankees all-star third baseman Alex Rodriguez to 162 games for A-Rod’s role in the Biogensis performance-enhancing drugs scandal. A-Rod wasn’t satisfied with the reduction, however, and filed a tortious interference lawsuit against Major League Baseball and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig in New York federal court with the hopes of reversing the suspension entirely.

Now, A-Rod’s attorney Joseph Tacopina acknowledged to ESPN that the all-star had filed a voluntary notice of dismissal which effectively dropped the lawsuit. …

November 22, 2013 Doping / Litigation

Lance Armstrong Settles and Avoids Questioning Under Oath

Just one day before Lance Armstrong was to be questioned under oath about his doping practices, he settled a lawsuit brought earlier this year and avoided his deposition.

In February 2013, Acceptance Insurance Company sued Armstrong after he admitted to doping during an interview with Oprah Winfrey. The company, like many others, wants the money it paid to Armstrong back. In Acceptance’s case, the company sought the return of $3 million in bonuses it paid for wins from 1999 to 2001.

On November 20, Armstrong …

September 26, 2013 Doping / Litigation

Armstrong Faces Uphill Battle Against US Justice Department’s Lawsuit

In the wake of Lance Armstrong’s doping confession, the tide is still not settled. On Monday, September 23, 2013, the US Department of Justice, on behalf of the US Postal Service, urged a federal judge to allow the government’s fraud lawsuit against Armstrong to continue.

In January 2013, the Toure de France “winner” confessed to using performing enhancing drugs in a television interview with Oprah Winfrey. The confession was “arguably the greatest fraud in the history of professional sports,” according to a government filing.

In …

August 8, 2013 Doping / MLB

Burden on MLB to Justify A-Rod Suspension

A disgruntled former employee of Biogenesis of America, a Coral Gables, Florida “Anti-Aging Clinic,” angry over unpaid wages, leaked records indicating that as many as 20 Major League Baseball (MLB) players were purchasing banned performance enhancing drugs (PEDs), including Human Growth Hormone (HGH), testosterone, and anabolic steroids. Biogenesis was an “anti-aging” clinic owned by Anthony Bosch, just across U.S. 1 from the University of Miami, housed in what was once a motel. Biogenesis offered its mostly wealthy clients assistance in weight loss, physical fitness, and …

October 17, 2012 Doping

Lance Armstrong Steps Down from Livestrong, Dropped by Nike

Days before the Livestrong Foundation’s 15^th anniversary celebration, its founder, Lance Armstrong, announced this morning that he is stepping down as Chairman. Nike, Inc. also announced today that it is terminating its contract with Armstrong based on the “seemingly insurmountable evidence” that Armstrong participated in doping. Nike will continue its support of Livestrong initiatives. Both announcements follow the release of a report last week by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency which included testimony from several former teammates that Armstrong both used and trafficked performance enhancing …

October 12, 2012 Doping

USADA Finds Armstrong’s Doping a Team Effort

On October 10, 2012, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency released a report laying out the reasons behind its August decision to ban Lance Armstrong from competitive cycling, as well as strip him of his racing titles (which include seven Tour-de-France victories). The allegations, which include testimony taken from over a dozen witnesses (including several former teammates), state that Armstrong had both used and trafficked the drugs EPO and testosterone.

At one point, the report accused Armstrong of perpetuating a “doping culture” on his racing team, painting …

September 26, 2012 Boxing / Litigation

Pacquiao v. Mayweather Lawsuit Update – Round 2

Just a week after being ordered by the Court to pay $114,000 in legal fees for failing to appear at a deposition, it appears that Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has reached a settlement with Manny Pacquiao. A pretrial agreement noted that the boxers are in the process of settling the defamation case brought by Pacquiao in December 2009. Pacquiao filed suit alleging that Mayweather accusing him of using performance-enhancing drugs.

The terms of the settlement are confidential. However, a statement released on behalf of the Mayweathers …

September 22, 2012 Boxing

Pacquiao Wins Round Against Mayweather in District Court

On September 19, 2012, U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks ordered Floyd Mayweather to pay $113,518.50 in attorneys’ fees and costs as a result of refusing to show up for a deposition in a suit filed against him by fellow boxer Manny Pacquiao. The underlying action is one for defamation – alleging that Mayweather told multiple parties, including reporters, that Pacquiao uses performance enhancing drugs.

Mayweather insisted that he missed the deposition last fall because he had been too busy training. However, investigators “obtained photos of …

August 21, 2012 Doping

Update: Lance Armstrong Suit Against Anti-Doping Agency Tossed a Second Time

On August 20, 2012, U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks of the Western District of Texas threw out a suit brought by renowned cyclist Lance Armstrong against the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (“USADA”), who claims that the USADA’s arbitration procedures would deny him due process of law. The allegations brought by the USADA against Armstrong include accusations of performance enhancing drug use in violation of anti-doping rules, charges which could strip him of his seven Tour-de-France titles. A nearly identical suit brought by Armstrong was dismissed without …