Armstrong and French anti-doping agency AFLD said on Wednesday that he was approached for a hair sample in an unannounced test on Tuesday in Beaulieu-sur-Mer in southern France, where he is training as part of his comeback for a crack at an eighth Tour de France title.

Armstrong said it was the 24th anti-doping test he's faced since he announced his return in August, and the first time he's ever been asked to provide a sample of hair.

'I'm fully aware that it's part of the job. I knew that going in. I'm a little surprised by the frequency but I'm not complaining,' he said.

Armstrong said a French anti-doping inspector armed with a pair of scissors took six clumps of his hair that will now be tested for signs of drug use.

'He didn't make my hair look very good,' said Armstrong, who also gave blood and urine samples.

'That's why I cut it after that, after he butchered it. There were a few good stripes at the back so we just buzzed it down.'

Testing of hair samples is allowed under French law, but is not recognized by the World Anti-Doping Agency or cycling's governing body UCI. -- AP