Armstrong may eschew retirement

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- Seven-time Tour de France champ Lance Armstrong may consider making a bid for an eighth consecutive title.

The cyclist told the Austin American-Statesman he has entertained the idea in the past two weeks after a French newspaper reported he had tested positive six times for a banned blood booster as he was winning his first Tour in 1999.

"I'm thinking about it," Armstrong told the Statesman. "I'm thinking it's the best way to piss (the French) off."

When asked how serious he was about another Tour, Armstrong said, "I'm exercising every day." Last April, Armstrong said this year's Tour would be his final race, the report said.