Apparently, we’ve all decided that today is the last day we want to talk about Lance Armstrong for the foreseeable future. And so, on the same day the shamed cyclist will admit to doping on Oprah, Lance has officially been stripped of his Sydney medal.
Armstrong was sent a letter from the IOC Wednesday asking him to return his bronze after a 21-day deadline to appeal UCI sanctions expired, according to officials who spoke with the AP.
The IOC is seemingly ignoring an eight-year statute of limitations on changing results, arguing that the statute is no longer valid since Armstrong broke the law.
The IOC has already stripped former Armstrong teammate Tyler Hamilton of his Athens gold after he admitted to doping, and is currently investigating teammate and Beijing bronze medalist Levi Leipheimer, who admitted to his crime as part of his testimony during the USADA’s investigation of Armstrong.
Spanish rider Abraham Olano Manzano, who finished fourth behind Lance in the time trial, won’t be bumped up to bronze. Instead, the spot will be left vacant as a forever reminder to the world: Hugs, not drugs.