Armstrong 'too late' for reduced ban: WADA

Lance Armstrong has not done enough to get his life ban reduced and his latest bid for rehabilitation is coming too late, the director general of the World Anti-Doping Agency says.

David Howman said the disgraced American cyclist did not seize the opportunities he had to come forward with the details of his doping past.

"If he satisfied the criteria to go forward and ask for suspension of his ban, the criteria will be carefully looked at, but so far he has not," Howman said.

"There is no consideration being given to it."

Armstrong met with the US Anti-Doping Agency chief Travis Tygart this month in hopes of getting a reduction of his ban but has yet to get in touch with WADA.

The meeting with Tygart was the first since 2012, the year Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned for life after systematic doping within his former teams was exposed.

Armstrong made a public confession about his doping but WADA was expecting him to give a comprehensive account of his cheating.

"I'm not sure why he has not done anything," Howman said. "He certainly had plenty of opportunities, including talking to us, but he has not come forward with substantial information that might be helpful to the cycling fraternity."

Armstrong has complained of receiving unfair treatment in his campaign for his lifetime suspension to be overturned. The ban also covers sanctioned triathlons and marathons, Armstrong's other favourite sports.

"If he had been given a harsher treatment, then one would have expected an appeal. There was no appeal," Howman said. "Everybody would hope that he would sit down and explain the whole regime and what they did. He had that chance.

"He did not do it before the independent commission that was established by the UCI. He did not do it with USAD. He has not done it with us. It's almost too late."

Howman also agreed with UCI president Brian Cookson that Armstrong's plans to ride part of the Tour de France route for charity a day before the professional peloton this summer would be disrespectful.