AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Lance Armstrong talked last week with the head of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency in hopes of potentially reducing his lifetime ban from the sports he loves, The Associated Press has learned.
Armstrong and Travis Tygart met for six hours, according to a person with knowledge of the meeting who spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussion was meant to remain private. The meeting was first reported by The New York Times.
The meeting was the first between Armstrong and Tygart since late 2012. The two have publicly sparred since the agency’s investigation into doping by Armstrong and his U.S. Postal Service team led to Armstrong’s ban and his being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.
Tygart has said that despite Armstrong’s public confessions to performance-enhancing drugs use, he had to meet with USADA to have any chance of reducing his ban, which also covers sanctioned triathlons, marathons and other sports Armstrong enjoys.
Tygart did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment. Armstrong’s attorney, Elliot Peters, declined comment.