By JIM VERTUNO
AP Sports Writer
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Lance Armstrong is relieved the federal investigation into doping allegations against him has ended, and says he always stayed confident he would not be charged.
Armstrong spoke by phone to The Associated Press on Thursday, his first interview since prosecutors closed their nearly 2-year investigation last Friday. He says the decision to not bring charges should end any questions or rumors about doping during his career.
Armstrong won the Tour de France every year from 1999-2005.
Armstrong says he quietly celebrated the end of the investigation with his family and a beer at his home in Austin, Texas.
Armstrong is scheduled to travel to Panama City, Panama this weekend to compete Sunday in a triathlon. He also says he'll spend this year supporting an anti-smoking campaign in California.
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