UCI ratifies USADA sanctions against Lance Armstrong

PanARMENIAN.Net - Lance Armstrong has been stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and given a life ban by world cycling's governing body, Reuters reported.

The UCI ratified the United States Anti-Doping Agency's (USADA) sanctions against the American, erasing him from the record books of cycling's most celebrated race.

"Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling," UCI President Pat McQuaid told a news conference as he outlined how cycling would have to start again. "The UCI wishes to begin that journey on that path forward today by confirming that it will not appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and that it will recognize the sanction that USADA has imposed."

On Oct 10, USADA published a report into Armstrong which alleged the now retired American rider had been involved in the "most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program sport has ever seen".

Armstrong, 41, had previously elected not to contest USADA charges, prompting USADA to propose his punishment pending confirmation from cycling's world governing body.