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WASHINGTON - Lance Armstrong's attorney has confirmed that the federal government is joining in the civil fraud lawsuit against the former cyclist.

The U.S. Department of Justice has joined the suit, filed by another confessed cycling cheat, Floyd Landis. The feds are filing under the False Claims Act, and if a judge agrees, could mean a $100 million judgement against Armstrong.

The suit accuses Armstrong and his teammates on the U.S. Postal Service cycling team of defrauding the government by using banned drugs and blood transfusions to gain an advantage, thus violating their sponsorship contracts.

The USPS paid $30 million to sponsor the cycling team. Under the False Claims Act, the government can recover treble damages at about three times what they paid.