IOC begin Armstrong investigation

The IOC has opened an investigation into Lance Armstrong
1 November 2012

The International Olympic Committee has opened an investigation into Lance Armstrong, who could be stripped of the bronze medal he won at the Sydney Games in 2000.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) last week ratified the sanctions recommended by the United States Anti-doping Agency, who concluded Armstrong and his United States Postal Service team ran "the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen".

All Armstrong's results from August 1, 1998 were expunged from the record books, including his seven consecutive Tour de France "wins" from 1999 to 2005, and the 41-year-old was banned for life.

Armstrong, who did not cooperate with the USADA investigation, finished third in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games road time-trial and now faces further scrutiny from the IOC, who will first await the outcome of an independent investigation ordered by the UCI.

An IOC statement read: "The IOC has taken note of the UCI's decision and welcomes all measures that will shed light on the full extent of this episode and allow the sport to reform and to move forward.

"We await the findings of the independent commission which will look into the UCI's role, and the recommendations they will make to ensure a healthy future for cycling.

"The IOC will now immediately start the process concerning the involvement of Lance Armstrong, other riders and particularly their entourages with respect to the Olympic Games and their future involvement with the Games."

Levi Leipheimer was one of 11 former team-mates whose evidence to USADA damaged Armstrong.

Leipheimer, who admitted to doping and was given a six-month suspension, claimed bronze in the time-trial at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

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