Armstrong's legal claim dismissed

Seven-time Tour De France winner Lance Armstrong's legal claim against the US Anti-Doping Agency has been dismissed.

The American filed a lawsuit claiming that his former team-mates were being blackmailed into testifying against him, maintaining he's never failed a drugs test.

However, a US federal judge dismissed the claim, stating that it was purely for publicity. Armstrong can refile the claim within the next 20 days.

The 40-year old was charged with using performance-enhancing drugs on June 29.

If found guilty, the 40-year-old could be stripped of his seven Tour wins.

Earlier, Armstrong accused the agency of waging a 'vendetta' after reports five former team-mates had testified against him.

Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf alleged George Hincapie, Levi Leipheimer, Christian Vande Velde, David Zabriskie and Jonathan Vaughters would be suspended for six months after admitting to doping and giving evidence against Armstrong.

Hincapie, now a team-mate of defending Tour de France champion Cadel Evans at BMC, has been a long-time supporter of the American.

"So let me get this straight... come in and tell USADA exactly what they wanted to hear in exchange for immunity, anonymity and the opportunity to continue to race the biggest event in cycling," Armstrong wrote on Twitter.

"This isn't about USADA wanting to clean up cycling - rather it's just plain ol' selective prosecution that reeks of vendetta."