Federal judge denies Lance Armstrong’s request to dismiss a $100 million fraud lawsuit

A federal judge has denied Lance Armstrong’s request to dismiss a $100 million fraud lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by the U.S. government.

Photo courtesy: INFphoto.com

According to AZ Central, Judge Robert Wilkins issued an 81 page document that explains why the government can move forward with the lawsuit.

Armstrong is one of the defendants who will be facing legal action, and it looks like it could be a costly battle for the all-star cyclist. The federal ruling means that civil action can continue.

Prosecutors are saying that Armstrong defrauded the government when he used performance enhancing drugs during his seven Tour de France victories. This became a federal issue because the team was sponsored by the U.S. Postal Service. The court claims that he revealed his use on an Oprah Winfrey program.

According to the NY Daily News., Thursday’s ruling says, “In January 2013, during an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Defendant Armstrong admitted that he used banned substances and methods, starting in the mid-1990s up until his retirement in 2005. In particular, he admitted having engaged in banned practices during each of the seven Tour de France races in which he competed from 1999 to 2005, including the six in which he competed and won as a USPS rider.”