Lance Armstrong dismissed questions regarding the disgraced American cyclist Floyd Landis on stripping the 2006 Tour de France title following a positive drug test.

 

Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France winner, told The Vancouver Province newspaper on Sunday that he has no comment because he no longer follows the competitive cycling on a daily basis.

 

"I would love to answer that question but unfortunately I'm out of that business," Armstrong said. "I only have the ability to focus on one thing at a time."

 

A US arbitration panel last week stripped Landis of his 2006 Tour de France title by upholding an earlier positive drug test.

 

Armstrong, who was in Vancouver to raise money to fight cancer, said cycling matters are "just a distraction for me".

 

Landis, a former American teammate of Armstrong, won the 2006 Tour but tested positive for a steroids during the event.

 

That forced Landis to go to an arbitration hearing against the US Anti-Doping Agency.

 

Armstrong himself has been battling over the years to clear his name of doping allegations.

 

Armstrong has faced a stream of similar accusations during his unprecedented run in the world's most prestigious cycling race.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 25, 2007)