Armstrong scraps independent drug-testing program

LanceArmstrong's plans for an independent drug-testing program have beenscrapped because of high costs and nearly impossible logistics.

Whenhe announced his comeback last year, the seven-time Tour de Francewinner said he wanted to prove he was clean, and was teaming withrenowned anti-doping expert Don Catlin.

Catlin was brought on board by Armstrong shortly after the American announced his return to cycling in September last year.

"It'sformalised, it's under way and it's the most comprehensive anti-dopingplan in the history of sport. I'm proud of it," Armstrong said at thetime.

But Catlin told The New York Times on Wednesday thatafter months of negotiations, both sides realised the program wasn'tworkable.

“In the real world, when you try to implement aprogram as grandiose as what you had in mind, it just becomes socomplicated that it’s better not to try.” Catlin said, adding that acontract with Armstrong had never been signed.

We’re all disappointed, but it’s just not going to be possible,"

Catlin didn't rule out trying again in 2010. Armstrong's next race is the Tour of California, which begins on Saturday.

Armstrongis still subjected to testing by other anti-doping organisations, likethe International Cycling Union and the United States Anti-DopingAgency.

His professional cycling team, Astana, also has an internal anti-doping program.

Through his Twitter micro blogging site, Armstrong has said he had been tested 16 times to date.

Earlierthis month, the Danish registered Team Saxo Bank ended it's internalanti-doping programme run by Dr. Ramsus Damsgaard, claiming that thesoon to be launched biological passport program by the UCI had forcedthem into a rethink.

"The International Cycling Union has set a standard which means that wewould simply be doubling up," Saxo Bank spokesman Bryan Nygaard toldthe newspaper Jyllands-Posten.