Lance Armstrong Stripped of 7 Titles [PHOTOS]

Lance Armstrong, the seven-time Tour de France champion is not going to fight doping charges by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. They are going to strip him of his titles and ban him from competitive cycling for life.

Armstrong, is a cancer survivor and was considered one of the all-time greats, announced he would not challenge the accusations against him.

Armstrong said, "There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, 'Enough is enough,'for me, that time is now. I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999."

Spokeswoman for the USADA, Annie Skinner, said the agency will strip Armstrong all seven titles he is banned from the sport of professional cycling for life.

Travis Tygart, USADA's chief executive officer said, "It is a sad day for all of us who love sport and our athletic heroes.This is a heartbreaking example of how the win-at-all-costs culture of sport, if left unchecked, will overtake fair, safe and honest competition, but for clean athletes, it is a reassuring reminder that there is hope for future generations to compete on a level playing field without the use of performance-enhancing drugs."

Armstrong was born in Texas and retired from professional cycling last year. He has denied that he used drugs to help build his outstanding career and said there was no physical evidence to support Tygart's "outlandish and heinous claims."

Armstrong, has never failed a doping test, but wants to end the allegations once and for all. He refused to participate in the USADA process, which he called "one-sided and unfair."

He disputed the agency's authority to take away his titles.

"Today I will turn the page," he said. "I will no longer address this issue regardless of the circumstances."

Via [Reuters]