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Lance Armstrong was stripped of his Le Tour titles in October. AP Photo,Graham Hughes

Sunday Times sues Lance Armstrong for €1.2m over libel payment

The British newspaper settled a case taken against them by the cyclist’s lawyers in 2006.

THE SUNDAY TIMES is suing Lance Armstrong for over €1.2 million over a libel payment made to the disgraced cyclist in 2006.

The newspaper paid Armstrong €400,000 to settle a libel case after previously suggesting that he may have cheated.

But the United States Anti-Doping Agency subsequently found that he had led the ‘most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen’.

USADA’s findings lead to a life ban for the Texan, who was also stripped of his seven Tour de France wins.

The newspaper is reportedly demanding the return of the original settlement payment, along with interest and legal costs.

In a letter to Armstrong’s lawyers, the paper said: “It is clear that the proceedings were baseless and fraudulent.

Your representations that you had never taken performance-enhancing drugs were deliberately false.”

The newspaper had long questioned Armstrong’s achievements and in 2004 it published an article stating that it was appropriate for questions about his success to be “posed and answered”.

After Armstrong’s lawyers issued a writ, the newspaper settled with him in June 2006.

- © AFP, 2012

David Walsh: You had people in the sport who were always complicit in the cover-up

As it happened: Swansea v Manchester United, Premier League

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    Mute Declan Mannix
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    Dec 23rd 2012, 6:37 PM

    Lance will come out with a full confession on Oprah or some such show in the next few years especially when the money runs low. It’s guaranteed.

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    Mute Ian Walsh
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    Dec 23rd 2012, 7:23 PM

    Oprah show is finished, just saying like…

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    Mute Robin Pickering
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    Dec 23rd 2012, 6:34 PM

    Well then they shouldn’t have settled the case should they? Idiots.

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    Mute willie
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    Dec 23rd 2012, 9:40 PM

    Your a clown robin

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    Mute Micheal D. Lynch
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    Dec 23rd 2012, 11:44 PM

    @ Willie – “You’re”

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    Mute Pauric Mcgowan
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    Dec 24th 2012, 12:52 AM

    Big star for you!

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    Mute Micheal D. Lynch
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    Dec 24th 2012, 1:24 AM

    Thanks Pauric, now both of us have silly comments posted. Congratulations.

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    Mute Robin Pickering
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    Dec 24th 2012, 8:02 AM

    Willie, with your well constructed counter-argument and faultless grammar, you demonstrate your own clown-ness remarkably well. Not.

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    Mute Robin Pickering
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    Dec 24th 2012, 8:04 AM

    Pauric, I’m pretty sure the ‘g’ in “Mcgowan” ought to be capitalised.

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    Mute Robin Pickering
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    Dec 24th 2012, 8:15 AM

    Here’s my point. The Sunday Times either alleged Armstrong was a cheat or they didn’t. If they didn’t, they shouldn’t have settled out of court as that would make them idiots. If they did allege he was a cheat, they should have had jolly good reason to. If they didn’t have good reason, then they’re idiots. If they had good reason to call Armstrong a cheat and settled out of court, then they’re idiots.

    Now, if the court had awarded a settlement against The Sunday Times, they’d have a case for redress. But they voluntarily made a settlement. So they don’t. Idiots.

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    Mute Padraig Shortt
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    Dec 23rd 2012, 7:53 PM

    Needle Dopestrong has put a question mark over every pro cyclist. I hope they get their money – even the Murdoch Evil Empire can be on the good side.

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    Mute Keith Wizzy
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    Dec 23rd 2012, 6:50 PM

    I bought his book just before he was exposed :p

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    Mute Thomas W Cooke
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    Dec 23rd 2012, 7:18 PM

    Money back?

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    Mute Keith Wizzy
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    Dec 23rd 2012, 10:09 PM

    Secondhand for charity so not so bad :)

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    Mute Padraig Shortt
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    Dec 23rd 2012, 7:54 PM

    Needle Pharmstrong might be better. Hope they win. I wish I could edit my comment.

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    Mute Ciaran McCann
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    Dec 23rd 2012, 11:54 PM

    Wish I could delete all your comments!!

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    Mute Padraig Shortt
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    Dec 24th 2012, 3:54 AM

    You must be a fan of the cheat. Pharmstrong is good.

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    Mute Andrew Telford
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    Dec 23rd 2012, 9:44 PM

    When he wins this (and he will because theres an actual burden of proof in a court of law and hearsay is inadmissible) it will set a legal precedent for him to take a huge liable case against the USADA…

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    Mute Col de Gal
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    Dec 23rd 2012, 9:52 PM

    Nonsense. You’re transfusing two completely different issues.

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    Mute Joe Conway
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    Dec 23rd 2012, 10:10 PM

    Liable? I think you mean libel?

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    Mute Col de Gal
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    Dec 23rd 2012, 9:19 PM

    I hope they both lose.

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    Mute Simon Blake
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    Dec 23rd 2012, 10:34 PM

    They are both parasites crooks and liars.

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    Mute Robin Pickering
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    Dec 24th 2012, 8:21 AM

    You’d better have something to back up calling someone a crook. It’s libel.

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    Mute Emily Elephant
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    Dec 24th 2012, 9:07 AM

    They’d probably settle though.

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    Mute Robin Pickering
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    Dec 24th 2012, 9:15 AM

    Good one Emily!

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    Mute Padraig Shortt
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    Dec 24th 2012, 3:57 AM

    That the has fans in spite of piles of evidence is interesting. Pharmstrong is Jesus to some.

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