Drug cheat Landis tried to blackmail Armstrong: Team RadioShack

New York, May 23(ANI): The fallout from disgraced Tour de France winner Floyd Landis' explosive doping allegations against Lance Armstrong has continued, with Armstrong's Team RadioShack accusing Landis of blackmailing the seven-time Tour de France winner.

Team RadioShack has condemned the claims and posted a statement on its website outlining an ultimatum from Landis to Armstrong after Landis was denied a spot on the team for the 2010 Tour of California.

"Having been refused [a spot on the RadioShack team], Landis later communicated directly with Armstrong and threatened to 'say directly that I'm going to accuse you and our former teammates of using blood doping and performance enhancing drugs to help you to win the three Tours de France in which we raced together'," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted the statement, as saying.

"Armstrong's response to Landis was identical to the responses to the same type of threatening text messages received from Landis two years ago - there would be no consideration, money, team positions or anything else given in exchange for not airing false accusations," it added.

RadioShack further lambasted Landis's character, saying: "'Getting no satisfaction and not receiving a position on the team, Landis carried through with his threat and provided the press with false allegations. The public has taken them for what they are worth - absolutely nothing."

Earlier, Armstrong had dismissed Landis's allegations that he and other members of the US Postal Service cycling team were involved in blood doping between 2002 and 2005.

"If you said, 'Give me one word to sum this all up,' credibility. Floyd lost his credibility a long time ago," Armstrong had said.

"We have nothing to hide. We have nothing to run from," he added. (ANI)