UCI strips titles from Lance Armstrong

AIGLE, Switzerland, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- The International Cycling Federation, accepting findings of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, has stripped Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles.

The federation, known by its French initials UCI, said it reviewed the "Reasoned Decision" report from the USADA that alleged a wide conspiracy among Armstrong and members of the U.S. Postal Service cycling team on doping and use of performance-enhancing substances.

The USADA said it no longer considered Armstrong, who finished first in the Tour de France each year from 1999-2005, The UCI on Monday accepted the sanctions.

Several of Armstrong's former teammates testified to the extent of the alleged doping program.

"Their testimony confirms that the anti-doping infrastructure that existed at that time was, by itself, insufficient and inadequate to detect the practices taking place within the team," UCI said in a release.

On, Oct. 10, USADA Chief Executive Officer Travis Tygart released more than 1,000 pages of testimony and supporting documentation related to Armstrong and alleged doping.

"The evidence shows beyond any doubt that the U.S. Postal Service Pro Cycling Team ran the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen," Tygart said.

Armstrong insisted that he never failed a drug test.

"The UCI has tested Lance Armstrong 218 times. If Lance Armstrong was able to beat the system, then the responsibility for addressing that rests not only with the UCI but also with [the World Anti-Doping Agency] and all of the other anti-doping agencies who accepted the results," the UCI said.