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Lance Armstrong ends fight against doping charges | Lance Armstrong ends fight against doping charges |
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US cyclist Lance Armstrong has announced he will no longer fight drug charges from the US anti-doping agency, ahead of a Friday deadline. | US cyclist Lance Armstrong has announced he will no longer fight drug charges from the US anti-doping agency, ahead of a Friday deadline. |
In a statement sent to Associated Press, Armstrong, 40, says he is innocent but weary of the accusations. | |
The US anti-doping agency (USADA) now says it will ban Armstrong from cycling for life and strip him of his seven Tour de France titles. | |
Armstrong, aged 40, retired from professional sport in 2011. | |
USADA alleges he used banned substances as far back as 1996, including the blood-booster EPO, steroid and blood transfusions. | |
Armstrong sued in federal court to block the charges but lost. | |
'Nonsense' | 'Nonsense' |
"There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, 'Enough is enough.' For me, that time is now," Armstrong said in the statement. | "There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, 'Enough is enough.' For me, that time is now," Armstrong said in the statement. |
"I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999. | "I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999. |
"Over the past three years, I have been subjected to a two-year federal criminal investigation followed by Travis Tygart's [USADA's chief executive] unconstitutional witch hunt. | "Over the past three years, I have been subjected to a two-year federal criminal investigation followed by Travis Tygart's [USADA's chief executive] unconstitutional witch hunt. |
"The toll this has taken on my family, and my work for our foundation and on me leads me to where I am today - finished with this nonsense." | "The toll this has taken on my family, and my work for our foundation and on me leads me to where I am today - finished with this nonsense." |
Armstrong had been given until 06:00 GMT on Friday to decide whether to continue fighting the USADA charges. | |
The agency has said that 10 Armstrong's former teammates are prepared to testify against him. | |
The cyclist has accused USADA of offering "corrupt inducements" to other riders. | |
Mr Tygart said shortly after Armstrong's statement that his agency would ban Armstrong from cycling for life and strip him of his titles, according to AP. | |
The chief also executive described the case a "heartbreaking" example of a win-at-all costs approach to sports. | |
However, Armstrong has previously disputed that the USADA has the power to take away his titles. | |
Armstrong, who survived testicular cancer prior to his record-breaking Tour wins, retired after the 2005 Tour de France but made a comeback in 2009. | |
He retired for a second time in February 2011. | |
He now says he will be focusing on the work with his cancer charity. |