Armstrong refutes misbehaving charge

London, April 8 (IANS) The seven times Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong has strongly denied the reports that he 'misbehaved' during a random drugs test by the French anti-doping authority last month.

The French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) said the 37-year-old American cyclist behaved strangely when the tester asked him to provide the urine, blood and hair samples. AFLD has sent a report to the International Cycling Union (UCI).

'I had never heard of labs or governments (the AFLD reports to the French government) doing drug testing and I had no idea who this guy was or whether he was telling the truth,' the Astana rider, who is in France, was quoted as saying in the Guardian.

'We asked the tester for evidence of his authority. We looked at his papers but they were far from clear or impressive and we still had significant questions about who he was or for whom he worked.'

'I was there with (team manager) Johan Bruyneel and two other people. We told the tester we wanted to check with the UCI to confirm who he was and to make sure he wasn't just some French guy with a backpack and some equipment to take my blood and urine.'

Armstrong added everything happened within 20 minutes and that there were no further problems.

'Johan had confirmed with the UCI that the tester had authority from the French government to take samples. I immediately provided blood, urine and hair samples - all the samples that he requested, as he requested,' the Texan said.

It was Armstrong's 24th test since he resumed his career after three-and-a-half years in retirement.

'This is just another example of the improper behaviour by the French laboratory and the French anti-doping organisations,' added Armstrong.

'I am sorry that they are disappointed that all the tests were negative but I do not use any prohibited drugs or substances.'

The UCI said it could not rule on the matter since the test, which proved to be negative, was commissioned by the AFLD.