Ironman triathlon bars Lance Armstrong

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KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii, June 14 (UPI) -- Organizers of the World Triathlon Corp. have barred Lance Armstrong from participating in Ironman events in France and in Hawaii because of doping charges.

The seven-time Tour de France winner is facing more allegations of blood doping during his cycling career and will not be permitted to join the Ironman competition unless charges are dropped, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday. Armstrong had planned to compete in the Ironman France race this month as a tune-up for the Oct. 13 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii.

WTC rules "dictate an athlete is ineligible to compete during an open investigation. Armstrong is therefore suspended from competing in WTC-owned and licensed races pending further review," the organization said in a statement to CNN.

Armstrong, 40, a cancer survivor, this month won the Ironman 70.3 Hawaii, a tune-up triathlon that covered 70.3 miles of swimming, biking and running.

The annual Ironman World Championship features a 2.4-mile ocean swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a full 26.2-mile marathon.

Armstrong began competing in triathlons after he retired from cycling and has denied taking performance-enhancing drugs during his sports career.