SCA Promotions has said it is considering filing a lawsuit to recoup from Armstrong as much as $12 million, which it paid him for his fourth, fifth and sixth Tour victories. But Armstrong's lawyer, Tim Herman, told USA Today Sports that there was no precedent for such a payback.
"My only point is no athlete ever, to my understanding, has ever gone back and paid back his compensation," Herman told the newspaper.
"Not Sean Payton or anybody else," he said of the New Orleans Saints coach who was suspended last season for his role in a bounty program. "They were suspended, but nobody said you've got to give your paycheck back."