Lance Armstrong hires criminal defense attorney

Lance Armstrong has hired a criminal defense attorney to provide counsel in a federal investigation into allegations of doping violations and fraud levied against the seven-time Tour de France winner.

Bryan D. Daly, a former federal prosecutor based in Los Angeles, will represent Armstrong in the investigation. The hiring was first reported by The Daily Journal.

The investigation comes in the wake of accusations made by disgraced cyclist Floyd Landis, who earlier this year admitted to doping during his career. Landis, a former U.S. Postal teammate of Armstrong during the Texan’s run of a record seven-consecutive Tour de France victories, accused Armstrong of doping in a series of e-mails he sent to doping and cycling officials. He went public with his accusations during the Tour of California in May.

Armstrong, who is competing in his final Tour de France, denies doping in his career and has publicly attacked Landis’ credibility.