Lance Armstrong is losing the seven cycling titles that made him a legend. UCI President Pat McQuaid announced tonight that the federation accepted the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s report on Armstrong and would not appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
McQuaid added Armstrong had been stripped of all results since 1 August, 1998 and banned for life for doping. The UCI itself also has some very awkward questions to answer. The UCI president, Pat McQuaid, has already successfully sued Floyd Landis after Armstrong’s former team-mate accused the governing body of a cover-up. In a statement, the union wrote,
“Today’s young riders do not deserve to be branded or tarnished by the past or to pay the price for the Armstrong era.” Tour director Christian Prudhomme has said the race would go along with what cycling’s governing body decides and will have no official winners for those years.
Armstrong, 41, received a life ban from Usada for what the organisation called “the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen”. The USADA report said Armstrong and his teams used steroids, the blood booster EPO and blood transfusions.
The report included statements from 11 former teammates who testified against Armstrong. This final blow comes after Lance lost his endorsement deals with Nike, Giro Helmets, Trek Bicycles, FRS energy drink and Anheuser-Busch. The report included statements from 11 former teammates who testified against Armstrong, including testimony that he pressured them to take banned drugs.
The International Olympic Committee also is reviewing the evidence and could revoke Armstrong’s bronze medal from the 2000 Sydney Games. The management committee of the UCI will meet on Friday to discuss whether to reallocate Armstrong’s Tour de France titles and prize money.
Armstrong’s astonishing return from life-threatening illness to the summit of cycling offered an inspirational story that transcended the sport. Former Armstrong team director Johan Bruyneel is also facing doping charges, but he is challenging the USADA case in arbitration.
McQuaid added Armstrong had been stripped of all results since 1 August, 1998 and banned for life for doping. The UCI itself also has some very awkward questions to answer. The UCI president, Pat McQuaid, has already successfully sued Floyd Landis after Armstrong’s former team-mate accused the governing body of a cover-up. In a statement, the union wrote,
“Today’s young riders do not deserve to be branded or tarnished by the past or to pay the price for the Armstrong era.” Tour director Christian Prudhomme has said the race would go along with what cycling’s governing body decides and will have no official winners for those years.
Armstrong, 41, received a life ban from Usada for what the organisation called “the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen”. The USADA report said Armstrong and his teams used steroids, the blood booster EPO and blood transfusions.
The report included statements from 11 former teammates who testified against Armstrong. This final blow comes after Lance lost his endorsement deals with Nike, Giro Helmets, Trek Bicycles, FRS energy drink and Anheuser-Busch. The report included statements from 11 former teammates who testified against Armstrong, including testimony that he pressured them to take banned drugs.
The International Olympic Committee also is reviewing the evidence and could revoke Armstrong’s bronze medal from the 2000 Sydney Games. The management committee of the UCI will meet on Friday to discuss whether to reallocate Armstrong’s Tour de France titles and prize money.
Armstrong’s astonishing return from life-threatening illness to the summit of cycling offered an inspirational story that transcended the sport. Former Armstrong team director Johan Bruyneel is also facing doping charges, but he is challenging the USADA case in arbitration.
