Cycling: International body clears Armstrong for comeback race
Associated Press
AIGLE, Switzerland — Cycling's governing body has cleared Lance Armstrong to make his road race comeback in Australia in January.
The International Cycling Union made an exception to its drug-testing rules for the seven-time Tour de France champion to return to the sport.
Armstrong chose the Jan. 20-25 Tour Down Under to come out of retirement after three years.
A strict application of testing rules would not allow the 37-year-old Texan to compete until Feb. 1, 2009, six months after he filed paperwork with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency .
But the UCI said today its improved drug-testing standards meant Armstrong could return two weeks early.
