BY CHRISTINE VALDEZ

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Lance Armstrong’s reputation is now in the hands of his teammates.

The Associated Press reports that former teammates George Hincapie, Levi Leipheimer, David Zabriskie, and Christian Vande Velde will testify against the 7-time Tour de France champion in exchange for reduced suspensions. 

In an e-mail to the AP, Armstrong accused  U.S. anti-doping Agency chief Travis Tygrant of waging a "vendetta" against him.

The story of Armstrong's teammates turning against him was reported initially by the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf and the New York Times. The news quickly spread throughout the cycling community. 

Hincapie is currently racing in the Tour de France and is refusing to comment on the doping claims.

“I’ve always tried to do the right thing for the sport. Right now I’m here to do my job and I’m going to try and focus on that,” said Hincapie to the Telegraaf.

Armstrong was charged last month by the U.S Anti-Doping Agency with potential doping during his time on the United States Postal Service, Discovery Channel, Astana and RadioShack cycling teams. In the 15-page letter from the USADA 10 witnesses are listed. Among those 10 names are Hincapie along with Levi Leipheimer, Christian Vande Velde and David Zabriskie, Armstrong’s former teammates.

Leipheimer, Vande Velde and Zabriskie are facing suspensions from the sport along with Hincapie. All four racers' suspensions will begin after the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana.

All four racers are listed as witnesses in the Armstrong case, but according to BMC manager Jim Ochowicz there has not been a formal notice to the team of any kind relating to the case against Armstrong.

If Armstrong is found guilty of doping by the USADA he will be stripped of all seven of his Tour de France titles.