Berlin  - Lance Armstrong will definitely compete in this year's Giro d'Italia despite breaking his right collarbone less than a month ago, the Gazzetta dello Sport reported Thursday.

The seven-time Tour de France winner has reportedly confirmed his participation in the Giro, which starts on May 9 in Venice, to race organizers.

However, the 37-year-old American rider won't be fully fit due to the injury sustained on March 23 when he crashed on stage one of the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon in Spain.

He subsequently underwent undergo surgery in the United States to insert a metal plate to strengthen the bone.

Armstrong remains uncertain about being allowed to compete in this summer's Tour de France after the French anti-doping agency (AFLD) said he could face sanctions over his behaviour during a doping test last month in southern France.

Samples taken from Armstrong on March 17 in Beaulieu-sur-mer returned negative but it is alleged that he may have violated the AFLD's rules regarding observation due to his lack of cooperation with the tester.

The Astana rider, who last year announced that he would be staging a comeback after retiring at the end of the 2005 season made the AFLD accredited doctor wait 20 minutes before allowing him take a blood, hair and urine sample. (dpa)