Curtain comes down on ‘serial cheat’ Lance

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 last night.

What remained of the Texan cyclist’s reputation lay in tatters after USADA released their ‘reasoned decision’ behind their announcement to strip him of his seven Tour de France titles and hand him a lifetime ban from the sport.

According to USADA chief executive Travis Tygart, there was “conclusive and undeniable proof” of a team-run doping conspiracy.

The reasoned decision document said: “USADA has found proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Lance Armstrong engaged in serial cheating through the use, administration and trafficking of performance-enhancing drugs and methods that Armstrong participated in running in the US Postal Service Team as a doping conspiracy.

“Armstrong and his co-conspirators sought to achieve their ambitions through a massive fraud now more fully exposed. So ends one of the most sordid chapters in sports history.”

USADA claimed Armstrong, 41, supplied banned drugs to other riders on the team, pressured them into participating in the doping programme and threatened to get them removed from the team if they refused.

In total, 11 former US Postal Service team-mates gave evidence against Armstrong — some of whom he said were like brothers to him.