PARIS, (Reuters) - Lance Armstrong violated  anti-doping rules during a random test in Southern France and  could face disciplinary action, the French Anti-Doping Agency  (AFLD) said yesterday.

The seven-times Tour de France champion “did not respect the  obligation to stay under (the) direct and permanent observation”  of the tester, the AFLD said in a statement.

The 37-year-old American, who returned to the sport in  January after 3 1/2 years retirement, denied any wrongdoing on  Tuesday.

Armstrong was asked to provide urine, blood and hair samples  when returning from a training ride around Beaulieu-sur-Mer last  month.

“In a letter sent to the Agency on April 8, UCI  (International Cycling Union) president Pat McQuaid said an  interpretation of the World Anti-Doping code and UCI anti-doping  rules confers the AFLD the right to open a disciplinary  procedure against Lance Armstrong,” the statement read.

“The AFLD is competent to impose disciplinary sanctions to  people who do not hold a French licence but train on the  national territory.”

Any sanction imposed on Armstrong would be valid on French  territory only.

Armstrong is set to ride the Tour de France, which starts in  Monaco on July 4.

In a statement on Tuesday, Armstrong explained: “We told the  tester we wanted to check with the UCI to confirm who he was and  to make sure he wasn’t just some French guy with a backpack and  some equipment to take my blood and urine.

“Johan (Bruyneel, Astana team manager) stayed with him and  in his presence called the UCI to find out what was going on.