Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, extreme right, of the U.S., pedals along with other cyclists during the third stage of the Tour Down Under cycling race in Adelaide, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Aman Sharma)

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Federal prosecutors say they are closing a
criminal investigation of Lance Armstrong and will not charge him
over allegations the seven-time Tour de France winner used
performance-enhancing drugs.

In a press release, United States Attorney AndrDe Birotte Jr.
says the case has been closed but didn't disclose the reason for
the decision.

Investigators looked at whether a doping program was created to
keep Armstrong and his teammates running at the head of the pack
while, at least part of the time, they received government
sponsorship from the U.S. Postal Service.

Armstrong won the Tour de France every year from 1999-2005 and
has always fiercely denied doping.

Prosecutors, however, began presenting evidence nearly two years
ago to a federal grand jury in Los Angeles, and several of
Armstrong's former teammates and associates provided testimony.