WASHINGTON -- A U.S. judge has refused to dismiss the governments lawsuit against disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong and associates for alleged doping and use of banned performance-enhancing techniques. From 1999 to 2004, Armstrong was the lead rider on a team sponsored by the U.S. Postal Service, and he won the Tour de France every year during that period. On Thursday, Judge Robert Wilkins ruled in favour of the governments position that Armstrong and associates owed an obligation to pay money due to the alleged breach of the sponsorship agreements with the Postal Service. The Postal Service paid about $40 million to be the title sponsor of Armstrongs teams for six of his seven Tour de France victories. The judge said the governments complaints are rife with allegations that Armstrong had knowledge of the doping and that he made false statements to conceal it. The Justice Department says the cyclist violated his contract with the U.S. Postal Service and was "unjustly enriched" while cheating to win the Tour. The Justice Department stepped into the case last year, joining a whistleblower lawsuit brought by former Armstrong teammate Floyd Landis under the federal False Claims Act. Wilkins, a newly appointed appeals judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, is sitting as a U.S. district judge in the lawsuit against Armstrong. . -- David Freese is starting to pick up his run production, which is something the Los Angeles Angels have been waiting half a season to see. . The flanker began his comeback from a right shoulder injury by coming off the bench on Saturday when Wales opened with a victory over Italy. Warburton replaces Justin Tipuric, one of three changes announced on Tuesday by coach Warren Gatland.
http://www.cheapgoldenknightsjerseysaut ... ill-jersey. They have homered once every 27.3 at bats, which just happens to be the third best mark in the American League, albeit just 10 games into the season. .com) - American Madison Keys grabbed a first- round victory on Sunday in a rainy start to the Apia International Sydney tournament. . The eighth-year point guard played in his 500th career game on Sunday, a 98-93 win over the Orlando Magic. Does he feel like hes played in that many games? "No," he said initially, before reconsidering.LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears and Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall agreed to a three-year contract extension through the 2017 season on Monday. Marshall announced on Twitter that the extension is worth $30 million and that hes donating $1 million to the "mental health community." He signed the deal during an appearance on ABCs "The View" talk show. In 2011, Marshall disclosed that he had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Marshall has a history of off-field problems, but the Bears have had no complaints. In two seasons in Chicago, Marshall has been selected to the Pro Bowl twice and ranked second in the NFL during that time in receptions (218), fourth in receiving yards (2,803), fifth in touchdown receptions (23) and tied for second in 100-yard receiving games (13). General manager Phil Emery did not indicate that an extension was imminent during an interview with WSCR-AM 670 Monday morning but had high praise for his star receiver. "A great player," he said. &quuot;Obviously a player wed like to have here for the long term.dddddddddddd. He is healthy. He feels great." The extension for Marshall is just the latest move in a busy off-season for the Bears. Most of their energy has focused on overhauling a defence that ranked among the leagues worst after they missed the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years. They let Julius Peppers go and signed Jared Allen, replacing one accomplished pass rusher with another, and addressed every other area on that side. But they havent ignored the offence, either. They locked in quarterback Jay Cutler with a seven-year contract after the season and now have his favourite target in the fold for four more years. Marshall has basically set the standard for Chicago receivers since his arrival from Miami in a trade. His 118 receptions in 2012 and 100 last season are the top two totals in franchise history, and with the emergence of Alshon Jeffery (1,421 yards) last season, the Bears have one of the best receiving tandems in the league. ' ' '
