Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong on Saturday hit out at organizers of the world's greatest race who said his return to cycling was embarrassing.

"The last time I checked, I won the Tour seven straight years and was never once found to be guilty of doping despite seven years of intense scrutiny," the American, who announced his return to competition last month, said in a statement.

"Not to mention that my team of 25 riders over those seven years was also never found to be positive."

Jean-Etienne Amaury, who replaced Patrice Clerc as Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) CEO last week, told Saturday's French sports daily L'Equipe: "We cannot say that he does not embarrass the Tour de France, with whom he has had a complicated history."

L'Equipe, owned by ASO's parent company EPA (Editions Philippe Amaury), claimed three years ago that samples of Armstrong's urine from 1999 showed traces of the banned blood-boosting substance erythropoietin (EPO).

However, Armstrong never tested positive and was cleared by a Dutch investigator appointed by the International Cycling Union (UCI).

Armstrong added in Saturday's statement: "Also, according to industry standards, the TV ratings, worldwide media impressions, spectators along the route, and global sponsorships were at an all-time high. Where's the embarrassment in that?"

Armstrong is to start racing again at the Tour Down Under in January 2009 or at the Tour of California the following month with the Astana team, managed by Johan Bruyneel.

The Belgian was Armstrong's team director for all of his Tour de France victories from 1999-2005.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily October 6, 2008)