The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) have confirmed that Lance Armstrong will be unable to compete as a triathlete at London 2012.
Armstrong was facing the prospect of losing his record-breaking total of seven Tour de France titles after the USADA confirmed that they had begun legal proceedings against the former cyclist.
The USADA last night revealed that it had sent Armstrong written notification regarding "allegations of anti-doping rule violations" during his time with the United States Postal Service (USPS) cycling team.
Armstrong then released a statement of his own, strongly denying the accusations.
"Although USADA alleges a wide-ranging conspiracy extended over more than 16 years, I am the only athlete it has chosen to charge. USADA's malice, its methods, its star-chamber practices, and its decision to punish first and adjudicate later all are at odds with our ideals of fairness and fair play.
"I have never doped, and, unlike many of my accusers, I have competed as an endurance athlete for 25 years with no spike in performance, passed more than 500 drug tests and never failed one.
"That USADA ignores this fundamental distinction and charges me instead of the admitted dopers says far more about USADA, its lack of fairness and this vendetta than it does about my guilt or innocence."
In response to these comments the USADA released another statement, preventing the cyclist from competing as a triathlete with immediate effect.
"In response to numerous inquiries regarding the public statements made by Mr Lance Armstrong, we can confirm that written notice of allegations of anti-doping rule violations was sent yesterday to him and to five additional individuals all formerly associated with the United States Postal Service (USPS) professional cycling team," the statement said.
"These individuals include three team doctors and two team officials.
"This formal notice letter is the first step in the multi-step legal process for alleged sport anti-doping rule violations."
Armstrong survived testicular cancer early in his career and went on to win seven consecutive Tour de France titles from 1999 to 2005. He has 12 days to appeal the charges.
