Lance Armstrong drops out of swimming occasion

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) a Lance Armstrong is pulling out of the share. U.S. Owners Swimming Executive Director Rob Butcher said Thursday that Armstrong will not move three distance functions in the Masters South Central Zone Swimming Championships at the University of Texas this week-end after swimming's international federation human anatomy raised questions. "He does not desire to cause any more harm to any more organizations," Butcher told The Associated Press. "His interest was around exercise and training. In light of FINA and one other political material, he will not be swimming." Though Butcher said Armstrong withdrew from the big event, he likely didn't have a choice after objections were raised by FINA to his participation. An Armstrong spokesman didn't immediately react to an email requesting remark. The U.S Anti-Doping Agency prohibited Armstrong from approved competition for life for his use of performance-enhancing drugs during a cycling career that included seven Tour de France brands. Butcher had explained Wednesday that Armstrong, who's a U.S. Professionals Swimming member, would be permitted to compete in his 40-44 age group since the master's occasion did not are categorized as USADA drug testing guidelines. But FINA sent a letter to U.S. Masters Swimming officials, saying that because U.S. Professionals Swimming is under its umbrella as a sanctioning human anatomy, it should recognize the World Anti-Doping Code and club Armstrong from competition. "We are expectant of them to apply the rules," FINA executive manager Cornel Marculescu told the AP. Armstrong had to join up for the Austin occasion by March 31. In line with the match event sheets, Armstrong had the second-best qualifying amount of time in the 1000 freestyle and No. 3 in the 1,650- and 500 freestyle events. Armstrong, 41, had been pursuing a career in triathlons before he was prohibited by USADA. He rejected doping for years until a massive report was issued by USADA in 2012 detailing drug use by Armstrong and his clubs. In January, Armstrong admitted during an with Oprah Winfrey that he used steroids, body boosters and other barred performance-enhancing drugs and techniques during his career. Armstrong also was taken off the table of the Livestrong cancer basis he established in 1997 after being identified as having testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain. Have AP Sports Writer Andrew Dampf brought for this report from Rome