The US government has confirmed it has joined a civil lawsuit against Lance Armstrong to claim about $100 million from the disgraced cyclist.

The US department of justice took the opportunity to join a whistle-blowing lawsuit filed by Armstrong’s former team-mate, Floyd Landis, who alleges the Texan defrauded the Government when it sponsored the United States Postal Service team.

The lawsuit provides for the recovery of three times the damages, plus penalties, and also includes the possibility of the whistle-blower sharing in any funds recovered.

The USPS sponsorship was from 1999 to 2004, with $31 million paid between 2001 and 2004 alone, the department said.

In a television interview with Oprah Winfrey, Armstrong confessed after bowing to the weight of evidence compiled by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

Talks between Armstrong, his representatives and the department of justice broke down ahead of the government joining the lawsuit.

The formal complaint will be filed within 60 days.