Armstrong drops defamation proceedings in France

AOL Sports | Armstrong Drops Defamation Lawsuits

Lance Armstrong is dropping his defamation suits in France against publishers of “LA Confidential: The Secrets of Lance Armstrong,” the 2004 title that quoted a variety of Armstrong's former teammates and support staff who claimed they had seen evidence the 7-time Tour winner used performance-enhancing substances.

Armstrong last week won a preliminary round in the case against the UK's The Sunday Times, and subsequently the sides settled the case.

Armstrong's French lawyers say they've dropped the case because of that decision, the Vrijman report of earlier this year, and the February decision that an insurance company couldn't deny Armstrong a $5 million bonus for winning a 6th Tour de France.

“Mr. Armstrong considers that his honor and reputation have been re-established for all people who examine the facts in good faith, and that no further purpose is served now in pursuing other actions in defamation,” the lawyers' statement said.

Had the case gone forward, the defense lawyers would likely have had to try to make the case that Armstrong used performance enhancers, since truth is an effective defense against defamation.