22 OCTOBER 2012 – LANCE ARMSTRONG STRIPPED OF 7 TITLES

LANCE ARMSTRONG was one of the most-loved and celebrated cyclists of all time, but he also became one of the most controversial riders in the sport.

The American cyclist won countless competitions during his career and was respected the world over after overcoming cancer.

However, he lost the world’s admiration when he was stripped of all his Tour de France (TDF) titles for doping. The TDF is one of the most prestigious and difficult cycle races and Lance made history when he won the race seven times.

In an interview with talk show host Oprah Winfrey in 2013, the disgraced sportsman admitted he’d used performance-enhancing drugs, or medication, that helped him while racing.

In sport, doping is the use of a drug that athletes or competitors are not allowed to use. Certain drugs, such as steroids, are banned as they can give athletes an unfair advantage over others.

In the wake of the doping scandal, Lance lost sponsorships from brands like Nike, Oakley and Trek. The fallen hero also formally stepped down from the board of directors at Livestrong, the charity he founded.

Hand-carved pumpkins are lit up at The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze in New York, USA, where thousands of pumpkins are displayed ahead of Halloween.

His use of banned substances resulted in Lance Armstrong losing all his Tour de France titles.