USADA: Armstrong doping evidence is overwhelming

In a statement on the outcome and the material gathered during the investigation into Lance Armstrong and the allegations of his use of performing enhancing drugs, Travis T. Tygart, CEO of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), calls the doping program revealed to have existed around Lance Armstrong ”the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful program that sport has ever seen.”

The disclosed material has been used as a basis for USADA's lifetime ban on Lance Armstrong and the disqualification of his competitive achievements from 1998 and forth including his seven Tour de France wins.

The 'Reasoned Decision' is sent to the entities with appeal rights to USADA's ban, Union Cycliste International (UCI), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the World Triathlon Corporation.

In a short statement on their website, the UCI say that they ”will examine all information received  in order to consider issues of appeal and recognition, jurisdiction and statute of limitation, within the term of appeal of 21 days, as required by the World Anti-Doping Code.”

Detailed information
The Reasoned Decision includes detailed information on a systematic use of doping such as scientific laboratory test results, emails, banking records and sworn testimonies from some of Armstrong's closest teammates on the U. S. Postal Service team including George Hincapie, Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton among others.

According to the Reasoned Decision presented on USADA's website, the evidence leaves ”no doubt that Mr. Armstrong's career on the USPS/Discovery Channel ProCykling Team was fueled from start to finish by doping.”

The Reasoned Decision also states that Lance Armstrong who had great control over the team, pressured his teammates into using the performance enhancing drugs.

”He (Lance Armstrong) was not just a part of the doping culture on his team, he enforced and re-enforced it,” the decision says.

The riders who have testified to have taken part in the doping case have all received lifetime bans from USADA, as have Dr. Michele Ferrari and Dr. Garcia del Moral.

Three members of the USPS team have contested the charges and will take their cases to arbitration.

Armstrong himself has chosen not to contest the evidence.

Read USADA's Reasoned Decision here