Lance Armstrong loses Tour de France bonus ruling, ordered to pay US$10 million

US rider Lance Armstrong of the Astana team crossing the finish line of the 15th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Pontarlier and Verbier, Switzerland on July 19, 2009. -- PHOTO: EPA
US rider Lance Armstrong of the Astana team crossing the finish line of the 15th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Pontarlier and Verbier, Switzerland on July 19, 2009. -- PHOTO: EPA

DALLAS (REUTERS) - Lance Armstrong was ordered to pay a record US$10 million to a sports insurance company after arbitrators ruled against the disgraced cyclist over bonuses he received during his Tour de France winning streak, the firm said on Monday.

Dallas-based SCA Promotions had paid US$12 million in bonuses to Armstrong but sued to get its money back after the American had admitted to doping.

The arbitrators issued the award to SCA after a multi-day evidentiary hearing during which Armstrong testified.

"According to the arbitrators' written ruling, the sanctions award punishes Armstrong for engaging in 'an unparalleled pageant of international perjury, fraud and conspiracy'," SCA said in a statement.

The bonus money from SCA was for three of Armstrong's seven Tour de France victories. Armstrong was stripped of his titles and handed a lifetime ban in 2012, after a US Anti-Doping investigation.

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