Lance Armstrong set to return to competitive sports this weekend

The disgraced American cyclist, who was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles after being part of a doping scandal, is entered for the Masters South Central Zone Swimming Championships

which takes place at the University of Texas.

Armstrong is billed to compete in freestyle races over 500 yards, 1,000 yards and 1,650 yards at the event held in his home city of Austin.

The meeting is a US Masters Swimming event, and although he is banned for life from all competitions that adhere to either the US Anti-Doping Agency or World Anti-Doping Agency codes, which means all high-profile professional and amateur sport, the low-profile Austin event falls outside those restrictions.

The championships are open to all ages but most competitors are veteran swimmers.

Armstrong, aged 41, will be racing against swimmers mostly older than he is.