re: Armstrong Officially Stripped of Tour Titles

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The UCI has contended that it should have jurisdiction over Armstrong's case as it was responsible for carrying out doping tests while he competed. The American has been at pains to point out he has never failed a test.

The UCI could choose to appeal to the court of arbitration for sport in Switzerland against the Usada ruling, or to gain jurisdiction over the case.

But for now it has chosen to wait for Usada to provide a required communication explaining its actions before making further comment.

A statement read: "The UCI notes Lance Armstrong's decision not to proceed to arbitration in the case that Usada has brought against him.

"The UCI recognises that Usada is reported as saying that it will strip Mr Armstrong of all results from 1998 onwards in addition to imposing a lifetime ban from participating in any sport which recognises the World Anti-Doping Code.

"Article 8.3 of the WADC states that where no hearing occurs the Anti-Doping Organisation with results management responsibility shall submit to the parties concerned (Mr Armstrong, Wada and UCI) a reasoned decision explaining the action taken.

"As USADA has claimed jurisdiction in the case the UCI expects that it will issue a reasoned decision in accordance with Article 8.3 of the Code.

"Until such time as Usada delivers this decision the UCI has no further comment to make."

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The waters are muddied further by Wada's eight-year statute of limitations. That would throw doubt on Usada's move to strip Armstrong of all his results from 1 August 1998.

Of Armstrong's Tour wins, only his victories in 2004 and 2005 fell within the eight-year window when proceedings were started against him, although Usada maintains evidence from prior to that period can still be utilised.

A further can of worms would be opened when it came to deciding the winners of the tours that took place between 1999 and 2005, if Armstrong is excluded from the results.

For example, runners-up to Armstrong during that period include the German Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso, both of whom have served bans for doping offences.

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