Judge rejects Lance Amstrong’s motion to dismiss government lawsuit

The U.S. government can continue to pursue its lawsuit against Lance Armstrong after a federal judge rejected the disgraced cyclist’s motion to have the case dismissed.

The government is suing Armstrong to recover some of the approximately $42 million the U.S. Postal Service paid to be the title sponsor of his cycling team from 1999 to 2004.

U.S. District Judge Robert Wilkins issued his ruling late Thursday. Wilkins cited allegations that, during the years in question, Armstrong made false statements to conceal his longtime use of performance-enhancing drugs.

More than a year has passed since Armstrong acknowledged cheating during a period of time when he won a record seven Tour de France titles. The Justice Department is arguing that he violated his sponsorship contracts with the postal service.

The case stems from a whistleblower lawsuit originally brought by cyclist Floyd Landis under the False Claims Act. The former Armstrong teammate could receive a significant portion of whatever monies the government recovers.