Armstrong will cooperate in doping probe

PARIS, July 17 (UPI) -- Lance Armstrong says he will cooperate with doping investigators after he concludes his competitive cycling career with the finish of the 2010 Tour de France.

Armstrong, 38, is seeking his eighth victory in the epic race that wraps up in Paris next weekend, after which he can turn his full attention to the U.S. investigation into allegations he and his teammates took part in an underground drug program in 2002-2204.

Armstrong began Saturday's 13th stage of the Tour in 32nd place.

The Washington Post said Saturday that Armstrong's fellow riders on the U.S. Postal Service team have been contacted recently by federal investigators in California who are in charge of the probe.

Armstrong told media covering the Tour earlier this week he would cooperate with the investigation as long as it remains even handed. "But I'm not going to participate in any kind of witch hunt," he said.