Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong is unlikely to face criminal charges, despite his admission that he took performance-enhancing drugs.

Attorney Andre Birotte, who oversaw the federal investigation into Armstrong, said his confession had not yet changed the decision not to prosecute.

"We made a decision on that case a little over a year ago," he said.

Last February, Birotte said his office had closed its investigation into possible crimes by Armstrong.

He added: "Obviously, we've been well aware of the statements that have been made by Mr Armstrong in other media reports. That does not change my view at this time."

Armstrong made the confession that he had taken performance-enhancing drugs during all seven of his Tour de France wins during an interview with Oprah Winfrey last month.

Legal experts said Armstrong exposed himself to possible charges of perjury or obstruction of justice.

However, that is not the end of Armstrong's legal worries.

He is being sued for £6.9m by a US insurance company, and around £1m by the Sunday Times.

Meanwhile, ABC News in the United States is reporting  that federal investigators are continuing to look into Armstrong and that Birotte "does not speak for the federal government as a whole".