The International Cycling Union (UCI) says no one will be named a winner for the seven years that Lance Armstrong finished first in the Tour de France.
The governing body of cycling is also calling on Armstrong and others accused of using performance-enhancing drugs to return the prize money they were awarded.
The UCI also announced today it will undergo an external review to determine whether it did enough to ensure Armstrong wasn’t doping.
"UCI is determined to turn around this painful episode in the history of our sport. We will take whatever actions are deemed necessary by the independent Commission and we will put cycling back on track," UCI President Pat McQuaid says in a statement.
On Oct. 10, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) made public 202 pages of a report detailing Armstrong's alleged doping. Monday, the UCI accepted the incriminating report on Armstrong and announced that he would be officially stripped of his titles and banned from sanctioned competition for life.
In the wake of the revelations, Armstrong has stepped down as chairman of Livestrong. Several sponsors have pulled their support of Armstrong but many will continue to support the organization that offers services to those battling cancer.
Meanwhile, UCI is trying to rebuild the reputation of the sport.
“Today, cycling is a completely different sport from what it was in the period 1998-2005," McQuaid says. "Riders are now subject to the most innovative and effective anti-doping procedures and regulations in sport. Nevertheless, we have listened to the world’s reaction to the Lance Armstrong affair and have taken these additional decisive steps in response to the grave concerns raised."
