Armstrong will not be able to run the Chicago Marathon

The organizers of the race confirmed on Friday that Armstrong is not officially registered for the traditional athletic event to be held next October 7.

Armstrong had planned to sign up with the "Livestrong" team, which represents the charity that fights the deadly cancer disease, and whose purpose was to raise funds for his cause that is managed by the "Lance Armstrong Foundation".

The decision not to allow Armstrong to run the marathon is considered by the foundation's directors as something "frustrating and regrettable."

The president and executive director of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, Doug Ulman, acknowledged that it was very negative for his organization as it undermined the efforts they make to raise funds.

However, the Chicago Marathon race is conducted under the supervision of the United States Athletics Federation and the prohibition on Armstrong from competing prevents him from entering any event organized, authorized or approved by organizations that follow the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency (AMA).

"Ironman France" also banned Armstrong from participating for similar reasons after USADA filed doping charges against him last June and which the former American cyclist did not want to defend before the arbitration committee.

United States Athletics Federation (USATF) spokesman Jill Geer said in an email that the decision not to allow Armstrong to run was the logical action of complying with what is established by law.

“The code is very clear as to the eligibility of sanctioned athletes to compete in other sports,” Geer reported. "The USATF has signed the AMA code, and therefore the lifetime ban that Armstrong received from USADA affects not only cycling but all other federated sports."

The official endorsement and supervision exercised by the athletics federation on the Chicago Marathon test allows it to increase its international prestige by recognizing and standardizing the results obtained from the traditional long distance race.

Armstrong has denied doping, but decided last month not to fight the charges that USADA filed against him to participate in a systematic doping chain from 1998 to 2005.

The USADA invalidated 14 years of its results - including its record of seven Tour de France titles - and was banned for life from participating in or participating in federated sports competitions after concluding that it used banned substances to improve its performance. EFE