The Sunday Times’ libel settlement to Lance Armstrong may be in question, the Guardian reported.
Armstrong received a libel settlement in 2006 over an article published in 2004 that “previewed a book on Armstrong titled LA Confidential by the then Sunday Times chief sports writer, David Walsh” about “an investigation that questioned his repeated denials that he had taken performance-enhancing drugs.”
On August 23, 2012, Armstrong issued a statement saying he is “finished with this nonsense” of US Anti-Doping Agency investigation into claims he used drugs, writing: “I will no longer address this issue, regardless of the circumstances.” Then, the agency “officially stripped Armstrong of his Tour de France titles,” and instituted a “lifetime ban,” ESPN reported.
According to Press Gazette, when the case settled, the Times “apologised for any such impression” that Armstrong was “guilty of taking any performance enhancing drugs.” ESPN added at the time that “terms were not disclosed” of the settlement and that Armstrong said “the article falsely alleged that I was guilty of doping.”
However, the Australian noted recently that the Times report “was careful not to accuse Armstrong of taking drugs, but said “if there are questions about the legitimacy of the success, it is only right they are posed and answered.””
We wrote to News International asking more information about any review of the settlement. News International’s Mary Kearney provided iMediaEthics with the Times’ Aug. 26 article about the lawsuit, which she said is “all that has been said” on the matter.
The article reported that the settlement’s “terms are likely to be reviewed in the light of the US anti-doping agency’s decision.”
Armstrong previously challenged a 2011 CBS 60 Minutes program segment that reported claims from his teammate Tyler Hamilton accusing Armstrong of using performance enhancing drugs.
We wrote in 2010 when Outside magazine Photoshopped its cover photo of Armstrong to change what his T-shirt said. Armstrong said the shirt he was wearing was a “plain t-shirt” but Outside made it read “38. BFD.” (38 years old, Big F***ing Deal). Outside did disclose that it altered the image.