The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency [USADA] has announced it will strip U.S. cyclist Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles from 1999-2005 and ban him from the sport for life.
The USADA move came one day after the 40-year-old Armstrong said he will stop fighting the doping charges
Armstrong claims there is "zero physical evidence" to support the allegations, but the USADA argues it has evidence from more than a dozen witnesses that the star cyclist used illegal drugs..
The USADA expects the International Cycling Union, to take similar action. The ICU, however, is demanding the USADA first reveal details of its case against the cyclist.
A third party to the controversy, the Amaury Sport Organization, which runs the Tour de France, said it will not comment on the matter until a hearing with the USADA and the Cycling Union takes place.
Armstrong's attorney, Robert Luskin, is quoted in The Washington Post as saying the USADA can not unilaterally strip Armstrong of his titles, because the doping agency did not award them.
World Anti-doping Agency chief John Fahey said Armstrong's decision not to contest the allegations is an admission of guilt.
Jim Ochowicz, director of the BMC cycling team said "As a friend of Lance's, I support his decision to call it an end. He has done so much for our sport over the years. I love him. I know he still has a big fight ahead of him and his battle of trying to find a cure for cancer and help survivors and carry on with the Lance Armstrong foundation".
In losing his titles, Armstrong joins Canadian Ben Johnson and American Marion Jones as the highest-profile athletes to lose championships as a result of doping sanctions.
Johnson was stripped of the 1988 Seoul Olympics 100 metres title after testing positive for a steroid. while Jones lost her 2000 Sydney Olympics gold medals when she confessed she had been taking drugs at the time.
Armstrong faces the possibility of legal action from promoters and race organizers looking to recover prize money.
While Nike was quick to stand by Armstrong, his other sponsors, including RadioShack, exercise bike maker Johnson Health Tech, sunglass maker Oakley, and Michelob are still silent.
Last week Armstrong said. " Enough is enough. Today I will turn the page. I will no longer address this issue regardless of the circumstances."
However, the story is far from over.
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