Only three weeks after coming clean to Oprah Winfrey about doping allegations things may be getting worse for seven time Te de France winner Lance Armstrong. According to an ABC News, the 41-year-old cyclist is under investigation by the federal government for obstruction, witness tampering, and intimidation.
Citing an unnamed sources, the report says authorities are "actively investigationg Armstrong" but not for lying about using performance enhancing drugs. Instead the focus of the investigation are the measure's Armstong took to hide his steroid habit by threatening and intimidating former cyclists who were witnesses in a federal investigation that abruptly came to a close last year with no explanation, the report says.
The U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte oversaw last year's investigation and spoke to the media about the matter for the first time yesterday. He said he is aware of Armstrong's confession and added that investigators are evaluating it but nothng has changed about the closed investigation. At the time Armstrong was facing charges of drug distribution, fraud, and conspiracy.
But, earlier today, a a high level source told ABC News that Birotte's views do not represent those of other investigatiors.
"Birotte does not speak for the federal government as a whole," the source said.
Birotte has no clue of the current investigation and his office will not be involved, the report says. Armstrong is serving a lifetime ban from competitive sports that was handed to hiim from the U.S. Anti-doping Agency and has until today to make a full confession to authorities in order for the ban to be lifted.