The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said that it would not appeal against a decision to strip Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour de France victories and ban him from the sport for life for doping.
The organisation said it would “not exercise its independent right of appeal” after considering the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) dossier that placed the Texan rider at the heart of what it said was the biggest doping programme ever in sport. WADA said it had made a “full and careful review” of the case, including whether the US body had ignored a statutory time limit on bringing cases alleging doping code violations. It said that based on an independent assessment “that opinion is clear and confirms that the interpretation given by USADA is proper and supported by case law,” the organisation said. The International Cycling Union (UCI) last month announced that it would not contest the USADA findings at the CAS, as the revelations sent shockwaves through the sport.