Texas Supreme Court Denies Armstrong’s Writ of Mandamus Petition

The Supreme Court of Texas has refused to hear former professional bicyclist Lance Armstrong’s appeal in an ongoing dispute over a prior arbitration settlement.  The case arose when Dallas-based SCA Promotions sought to reopen an arbitration settlement decided in favor of Armstrong after he publicly admitted to using performance enhancing drugs throughout his cycling career.  During the 2005 arbitration proceedings between Armstrong and SCA Promotions, however, Armstrong testified under oath that he never used such drugs.  After the arbitration was concluded, Armstrong received about $12 million in bonuses from SCA Promotions related to several of his seven Tour de France bicycling competition wins.

Following Armstrong’s doping admission, SCA Promotions asked the original three-person arbitral panel to reconsider the $12 million settlement award.  The panel agreed to reexamine the case and Armstrong appealed the panel’s decision to a number of Texas appellate courts.   Although Armstrong’s attorneys argued in a petition for mandamus that the arbitral panel’s move violates Texas law, the state’s high court declined to consider the dispute.  Armstrong is reportedly scheduled to provide testimony in the case later this month.