October 22, 2012

The International Cycling Union (UCI) accepted the findings of the United States Anti-Doping Agency’s investigation into American cyclist Lance Armstrong and has stripped him of his seven Tour de France titles. Making the announcement, UCI President Pat McQuaid noted, “Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling” and is banned from the sport for life. “When I took over [as president of UCI] in 2005,” stated McQuaid, “I made the fight against doping my priority. I acknowledged cycling had a culture of doping.”

Lance Armstrong has been stripped of all seven of his Tour de France titles. (AP/Wide World)

More than a dozen of Armstrong’s former teammates and former team employees have confirmed that his career on the U.S. Postal Service Team was fueled from start to finish by doping. He is believed to have taken a drug that increases red blood cell production, which pumps additional oxygen into the blood stream, enhancing energy. Armstrong won the Tour de France in seven successive years from 1999 to 2005.

Additional World Book article:

• Bicycle racing
• Drug testing

August 24, 2012

American cyclist Lance Armstrong’s long battle to clear his name of doping charges came to a sudden conclusion yesterday when he announced he would not enter into an arbitration process that was his final option in his defense against using performance-enhancing drugs. In making the announcement, Armstrong insisted, as he has during the entire investigation, that he is innocent of taking such drugs during his career as a cyclist. He said he was ending his defense because he was tired of fighting the endless accusations.

Lance Armstrong, who won the Tour de France bicycle race from 1999 through 2005, is being stripped of his titles because of doping charges. (AP/Wide World)

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) subsequently announced that it would strip Armstrong of the seven Tour de France titles he won from 1999 to 2005. The annual Tour de France is international cycling’s most famous event. The USADA also stated that Armstrong would be banned for life from competitive cycling and would lose the bronze medal he won at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games as well as other awards and titles.

Armstrong’s case could still be revived if the International Cycling Union (ICU), the sport’s governing body, decides to take the matter before the International Court of Arbitration for Sport. However, a USADA official said the ICU was bound to recognize the USADA decision because the ICU is a signer of the World Anti-Doping Code.

Rumors about Armstrong’s alleged use of drugs date back to 1996 and intensified after he became world famous for winning the Tour de France. He always defended himself against the doping charges, stating that over the years he had passed hundreds of tests designed to detect illegal drugs. Armstrong retired from cycling in 2011.