USADA says Armstrong's lifetime ban reduction talk 'premature, speculative'

The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has said that any discussion on a reduction of disgraced cycling star Lance Armstrong's lifetime ban is 'premature' and 'speculative' until he offers information about doping.

International cycling's world governing body the International Cycling Union (UCI) had stripped the American of his seven Tour de France titles in August last year, after USADA banned him for life for using a banned performance-enhancer.

According to Sport24, although USADA chief executive Travis Tygart said that technically it is still a possibility for Armstrong to receive a reduction on his ban, however, suggestions that his lifetime ban from competitive sport can be lifted were 'premature' and 'speculative'.

Stating that he welcomed the cyclist's willingness to talk, Tygart however, said that the effect would not be the same as the value has been diminished significantly to some extent, adding that Armstrong did not take the opportunity he was offered when USADA invited cyclists to talk about doping in June 2012.

But Tygart said that USADA is still hopeful that Armstrong might give information, which would be 'helpful to give cycling a chance to unshackle from its past'.