Lance Armstrong stripped of his seven Tour de France titles after refusing to defend drug charges
The reputation of Lance Armstrong, the most successful cyclist in history and a role model to millions for the way he overcame cancer, lay in tatters on Friday night as he was stripped of his seven Tour de France victories by United States anti-doping officials.
In the highest profile humiliation of a sporting icon over drugs since the sprinter Ben Johnson, the US Anti-Doping Agency said it was taking away Armstrong’s seven Tour de France titles he won between 1999 and 2005, and giving him a lifetime ban from cycling. His performances in all professional races from August 1998 would be discounted.
The sanctions were imposed after Armstrong issued a statement on Friday morning in which he said he would no longer contest the charges brought against him by the USADA.
He continued to protest his innocence and said he was ceasing to fight the USADA because its charges were unfair and a “witch-hunt”, but John Fahey, the leading anti-drugs official in the world, said Armstrong’s decision equated to an admission of cheating.
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