Uci Strips Armstrong Of Titles

Cycling’s governing body, the UCI, has stripped Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles having accepted the findings of the United States Anti Doping Agency’s (USADA) which alleged Armstrong had used performance enhancing drugs throughout his career. 

USADA’s report, published earlier this month, stated that Armstrong led ‘the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that the sport has ever seen.’ 

Having accepted the findings of the report, the UCI has stripped Armstrong of all results since 1st August 1998 and have banned him for life. 

On what UCI president Pat McQuaid called a ‘landmark day for cycling’ the Irishman also stated that ‘Armstrong has no place in cycling. He deserved to be forgotten.’ 

McQuaid denied speculation that he would retire over the controversy arguing that the sport of cycling has a clean future. 

‘This is a crisis, the biggest crisis cycling has ever faced, I like to look at this crisis as an opportunity for our sport and everyone involved in it to realise it is in danger and to work together to go forward.’

‘Cycling has a future. This is not the first time cycling has reached a crossroads or that it has had to begin anew,’ McQuaid said. 

McQuaid also answered questions regarding the $100,000 donation made by Armstrong to the UCI in 2002, one year after the cyclist had had a suspicious test for EPO at the 2001 Tour of Switzerland, adding: ‘We used the money against doping, it was done openly and put to good use.’

Meanwhile, Oakley has become the latest sponsor to drop the cyclist, but insisted that it would continue to support the Livestrong cancer support charity, founded by Armstrong. 

Armstrong himself appears to have acknowledged the decision on Twitter, altering his profile from ‘Father of 5 amazing kids, 7-time Tour de France winner, full time cancer fighter, part time triathlete‘ to ‘Raising my 5 kids. Fighting Cancer. Swim, bike, run and golf whenever I can.’