Cycling: Armstrong hints at Tour boycott

Lance Armstrong has threatened to boycott next year's Tour de France over a French judicial inquiry into alleged drug use by his US Postal team.

"If the current situation exists then I will not ride the Tour in 2001," the two-time Tour winner said. "I'm not saying that to threaten or warn anyone as I really don't think the French care either way if I go."

The investigation was launched last month, but Armstrong and US Postal officials have always denied using illegal products.

The Texan rider said the team was being victimised because of its success and denied any knowledge of the use of Actovegin, a controversial substance that contains calves' blood.

"I will say that the substance on people's minds, Activ-o-something [Actovegin] is new to me. Before this ordeal I had never heard of it, nor had my team-mates."

Paris judge Sophie-Helene Chateau is heading the inquiry into the team for "infractions of the law on the prevention of the use of doping products, inciting the use of doping products and the breaking of legislation regarding toxic substances."

Armstrong said the US Postal doctor was on the road with the team for three weeks during the Tour de France to treat a group of 25-50 people.

"If something were to go wrong with any of them he would be responsible for their well-being.

"That's why he would have things like adrenalin, cortisone, scissors, stitches, etc.

"Some may be viewed as 'performance enhancers' but they're not used in that sense. And to so incorrectly call something a substitute for doping is clueless and irresponsible."