The 'Whistleblower' trial threatens to take two family homes - one in Aspen and the other in Texas - away from disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong. Accused by the US government of defrauding a government agency during his cycling years, Armstrong may also lose his entire personal fortune. He raced for US Postal team in six of the seven Tour de France events that he had won while doping.
The verdict is not expected till next year and while Armstrong is reportedly confident of his chances, a verdict against him can, literally, put him out in the open. "We would not be sitting at this table any more. We wouldn't be sitting in this home any more. We wouldn't be sitting in any home. I don't have $100m," Armstrong was quoted as saying by UK's Daily Mail in response to a question about what would happen if a decision was against him.
Defrauding case against Armstrong is launched by former Postal rider Floyd Landis, who himself has been a doper. Even as the financial bomb, if dropped on Armstrong, will ruin him, the 43-year-old is hard at work to build a strong case. "We like our case, is all I will say. I'm not going to jinx myself," he said.