USADA STRIPS LANCE ARMSTRONG'S TITLES, BANS HIM FROM CYCLING

By Rick Maese

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced Friday it was banning cyclist Lance Armstrong for life and stripping him of his record seven Tour de France titles.

In a news release, USADA said Armstrong's decision not to take the charges against him to arbitration triggers the lifetime ban and forfeiture of his Tour victories from 1999 to 2005.

The International Cycling Union, which has been fighting with USADA over jurisdiction in the Armstrong case, said Friday it would withhold comment until it receives an explanation from USADA on its decision. The cycling body said it wants USADA to "submit to the parties concerned a reasoned decision explaining the actions taken." It said the World Anti-Doping Code requires USADA to do this in cases where no hearing occurs.

"Nobody wins when an athlete decides to cheat with dangerous performance enhancing drugs, but clean athletes at every level expect those of us here on their behalf, to pursue the truth to ensure the win-at-all-cost culture does not permanently overtake fair, honest competition" Travis T. Tygart, USADA's chief executive, said Friday in a statement. "Any time we have overwhelming proof of doping, our mandate is to initiate the case through the process and see it to conclusion as was done in this case."

Tygart and USADA charge that Armstrong's wins, which made him a global sports icon following his battle against cancer, were aided by banned substances, including steroids and blood doping.

In deciding to give up his fight, Armstrong still maintained his innocence, saying the wins were legitimate and within the rules.

"There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, 'Enough is enough.' For me, that time is now," Armstrong said in a statement Thursday night.

Armstrong called the USADA investigation an "unconstitutional witch hunt" and said he saw no reason to participate in any further proceedings that might clear his name.

"If I thought for one moment that by participating in USADA's process, I could confront these allegations in a fair setting and -- once and for all -- put these charges to rest, I would jump at the chance," Armstrong said. "But I refuse to participate in a process that is so one-sided and unfair."

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