The Sunday Times has reached a settlement with disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong, the newspaper has confirmed.

The newspaper had launched legal action against the American seeking to recover damages and costs relating to his libel claim, settled in 2006.

In 2004, the Sunday Times printed an article written by then deputy sports editor Alan English, based on chief sports writer David Walsh's co-authored book LA Confidential, containing allegations about Armstrong and performance-enhancing drugs.

Armstrong sought damages from the Sunday Times, Walsh and English.

The suit was settled out of court after London’s High Court ruled that the article “meant accusation of guilt and not simply reasonable grounds to suspect”.

Last year, following a lengthy investigation by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, Armstrong finally confessed to doping throughout the period when he won a record seven Tour de France titles. He was subsequently stripped of those titles and all other results and handed a life ban.

In December, the Sunday Times launched an action to recover the £300,000 settlement paid to Armstrong in the original legal case plus more than £720,000 in costs.

An article by sports editor Alex Butler confirmed: "Last night The Sunday Times announced that it, Walsh and English had 'reached a mutually acceptable final resolution to all claims against Lance Armstrong related to the 2012 High Court proceedings and are entirely happy with the agreed settlement, the terms of which remain confidential'."

PA