Lance Armstrong banned for life

 

The global governing body of cycling on Monday Oct 22,2012 said it will officially strip Lance Armstrong of his 7 Tour de France Titles and ban him from the sport for life following a report from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency that has accused him of leading a massive doping programme on his teams.

International Cycling Union (UCI) President Pat McQuaid said the USADA’s report had been accepted and they would not appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. “Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling and he deserves to be forgotten in cycling,” Patt McQuaid said at a news conference.

Lance Armstrong is a retired US Road Racing Cyclist who have won the Tour de France Titles seven consecutive times (1999-2005)

 In June 2012 the US Anti-Doping Agency(USADA) charged Armstrong with having used illicit performance enhancing drugs and in August 2012 they announced a lifetime ban from competition as well as the stripping of all titles since August 1998.
On October 22, 2012, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the sport's governing body, endorsed USADA's verdict and confirmed both the lifetime ban and the stripping of titles.

 

Lance Armstrong won his first Tour de France in 1999. He is seen here celebrating with his wife Kristin, left, and his mother Linda on the Champs Elysees after the 20th and final stage of the Tour

Lance Armstrong has won the Tour de France a further 6 times in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005

Lance Armstrong celebrating with his wife Kristin, his son Luke and his twin daughters Isabella Rose and Grace Elizabeth signal five, after the 20th and final stage of the 2003 Tour de France in Paris. The couple filed for divorce in September 2003

Lance Armstrong began dating singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow in the autumn of 2003 and revealed their relationship in January 2004. The couple announced their engagement in September 2005 and their split in February 2006.

Lance Armstrong announced his retirement from competitive cycling 'for good' on February 16, 2011

Lance Armstrong admits doping on Oprah show - Jan 17,2013

Lance Armstrong has admitted he took performance-enhancing drugs and used blood transfusions as he won his seven Tour de France titles.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, the 41-year-old said it was "not possible" to win the gruelling race so many times without doping.
Armstrong confessed that he doped during all seven Tour victories from 1999 to 2005, using blood-boosting agent EPO; blood doping; testosterone, cortisone or human growth hormone.
He said: "My cocktail was EPO, transfusions and testosterone. I made my decisions. They're my mistake. And I'm sitting here today to acknowledge that and to say I'm sorry for that."

The interview was recorded in Armstrong's home town of Austin, Texas, three days before it was broadcast
Oprah Winfrey got right to the point when the interview began, asking for yes-or-no answers to five questions.
Did Armstrong take banned substances? "Yes."
Did that include the blood-booster EPO? "Yes."
Did he do blood doping and use transfusions? "Yes."
Did he use testosterone, cortisone and human growth hormone? "Yes."
Did he take banned substances or blood dope in all his Tour wins? "Yes."