A US insurance firm on Thursday filed a lawsuit against disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong seeking restitution of $12 million in bonus money paid to the American for his Tour de France triumphs. The Texas-based company, SCA Promotions, wants Armstrong to repay money the firm insured from his Tour victories in 2002, 2003 and 2004, after he was stripped of his record seven Tour titles last year.

A US insurance firm on Thursday filed a lawsuit against disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong seeking restitution of $12 million in bonus money paid to the American for his Tour de France triumphs. The Texas-based company, SCA Promotions, wants Armstrong to repay money the firm insured from his Tour victories in 2002, 2003 and 2004, after he was stripped of his record seven Tour titles last year. js/sst

US federal agents are investigating disgraced former Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong for crimes including obstruction, witness tampering and intimidation, reports said Wednesday. Citing an unnamed source, ABC News said the current probe is focused on different charges from those previously investigated. US Attorney Andre Birotte, who led the federal probe that was dropped last year, said he had no plans to press charges despite Armstrong's recent doping admissions, but he did not definitively rule out such action.

(Adds UCI's response) By Julien Pretot PARIS, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The long-standing row between the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) took a farcical turn on Tuesday when WADA boss John Fahey denied having agreed to work with the UCI on a truth and reconciliation process.