Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has competed in a triathlon after organisers dropped USA Triathlon sanctioning so he could take part.

Armstrong is banned from events that follow World Anti-Doping Agency rules after he chose not to fight USADA charges of doping in cycling events.

Armstrong finished the 70-mile swim, bike and run in 4 hours, 16 minutes on Sunday, joining a wave of fellow cancer survivors.

Brock Yetso, president of the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults, says "it was an easy decision" to allow Armstrong to participate because the event raises money for cancer.

The CEO of Armstrong's charity Livestrong, Doug Ulman, founded the Ulman Cancer Foundation. Armstrong says Ulman led Livestrong "to where it is today."

Yetso says only two people decided to drop out of the triathlon after sanctioning was dropped, while 300 said they wanted to race because of the decision.

The world cycling body, UCI, has yet to ratify the USADA recommendation that Armstrong be stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.