Six days after the Union Cycliste International (UCI) suspended their defamation case against author and journalist Paul Kimmage, the Irishman launched a counter-case of his own last night against UCI president Pat McQuaid and former UCI president Hein Verbruggen, accusing the pair of slander/defamation, denigration and “strong suspicions of fraud”.

Irish journalist Paul Kimmage has lodged a criminal complaint against International Cycling Union president Pat McQuaid and honorary president Hein Verbruggen in a move which will subject the leadership of the world governing body to further scrutiny.

Among Lance Armstrong’s former team-mates who gave sworn testimony against him were Michael Barry and George Hincapie and both released statements last night.

Lance Armstrong was a “serial cheat” who led “the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen”, United States Anti-Doping Agency said today.

Last night, for the first time in his life, Lance Armstrong gave up.