Cycling union strips Armstrong of Tour de France titles, bans star

Geneva, Switzerland (4E Sports) – The International Cycling Union has officially stripped Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles and banned him for life, claiming the star has no place in the sport.

“Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling,” said UCI president Pat McQuaid as he announced the cycling body’s decision to uphold USADA’s verdict to strip the cyclist of his Tour titles.

UCI’s decision came after the US Anti-Doping Agency revealed overwhelming evidence that Armstrong was heavily involved in a “sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program.”

McQuiad said UCI also stripped Armstrong of his results dating from 1998, virtually wiping out 14 years of his career.

With UCI’s decision, McQuiad expects the number of drug cheats in cycling would be greatly reduced.

“I do believe that doping can be hugely reduced,” said McQuiad, adding educational programs and how teams are structured can help reduce users of illegal substances in the sport.

The International Olympic Committee is also reviewing USADA’s evidence that could result to the revocation of Armstrong’s bronze medal from the 2000 Sydney Games.

The cycling union’s decision leaves Greg LeMond as the only American to win the tour, accomplishing it in 1986, 1989, and 1990.

The 41-year-old Armstrong has vehemently denied doping allegations, arguing that he has taken more than 500 drug tests and never failed.

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