Lance Armstrong Stripped of Tour de France Titles
Friday, August 24th, 2012August 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.
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.