Armstrong cedes fight, anti-doping agency strips him of titles, points

The US Anti-Doping Agency erased 14 years of Lance Armstrong's career Friday — including his record seven Tour de France titles — and banned him for life from the sport that made him a hero to millions of cancer survivors, after concluding he used banned substances.

USADA said it expected cycling's governing body to take similar action, but the International Cycling Union said it first wanted a full explanation on why Armstrong should relinquish Tour titles he won from 1999 through 2005.

Armstrong, who retired a year ago, said Thursday that he would no longer challenge USADA and declined to exercise his last option of arbitration. USADA's investigation, he said, was a "witch hunt".

Armstrong will forfeit any medals, winnings, points and prizes, USADA said, apart from the titles. Every one of his competitive races from August 1, 1998, has been vacated.

USADA said its evidence came from more than a dozen witnesses who said they knew or had been told by Armstrong that he had "used EPO, blood transfusions, testosterone and cortisone". Up to 10 former teammates were reportedly set to testify against him.

Armstrong's riveting victories, his work for cancer awareness and his romances with rocker Sheryl Crow, fashion designer Tory Burch and actress Kate Hudson made him a figure who transcended sports.

Armstrong knew his legacy would be blemished by his decision not to arbitrate. But he said he had grown tired of defending himself. He has pointed to the hundreds of drug tests he passed as proof of his innocence.

"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 Thursday night. "Today I turn the page. I will no longer address this issue... The toll this has taken on my family and my work for our foundation and on me leads me to where I am today — finished with this nonsense."

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