Lance Armstrong can enjoy the 2000 Olympics Bronze medal for a for a couple more days
Following the aftermath of USADA’s in depth investigation into Lance Armstrong, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to strip the cyclist from his 2000 Olympic Games Sydney Olympic Bronze medals.
However, IOC currently observes an eight-year statute of limitations and the medal falls beyond that but considering that the American had already been disqualified from all his wins since 1999, it has decided to continue with the stripping him off with
the medal.
The 41-year-old used systematic doping to enhance his performance throughout his career and managed to dodge the authorities every single time.
He was tested several times by the UCI and other doping authorities but no one could quite figure out whether it was his legs or the drugs inside that earned him the seven Tour de France overall titles.
The Tour organisers and the UCI have already decided to take back all his wins since the time including overall victories at the most prestigious cycling race of the season, the Tour de France through 1998-2005 have been cancelled.
The IOC seems in no rush to take the medal back from the American and is waiting for UCI to inform the cyclist about all the sanctions before moving forward.
"The IOC today will not move because we need to have the situation whereby the UCI notifies officially Mr. Armstrong of the fact that he will be disqualified and declared ineligible and that he should hand over his medal," IOC President Jacques Rogges stated.
"When he will be notified Mr. Armstrong will have 21 days to launch an appeal. It is only after that period that the IOC can legally take action".
About one hundred samples were retested from the 2004 Athens Olympics following a request made by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
"Athletes who cheat by using doping substances must understand that just because they get away with it one day, there is a very good chance that they will be caught in the future," said WADA President John Fahey.
Lance Armstrong, who was once pride of his country now, has lost all his fame and love since the disgrace that he brought to the sport and all his countrymen, but hats off to the USADA without whom, the truth might have never been revealed.
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