• Cycling

IOC to investigate Armstrong's Sydney bronze

Lance Armstrong could yet lose his Olympic bronze medal © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: WADA accepts Armstrong sanctions
  
• News: Wiggins handed 2009 Tour podium finish
  

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is to investigate whether or not to strip Lance Armstrong of the bronze medal he won at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

Armstrong saw his cycling record from 1998 to the present day wiped from the record books after the United States Anti-Doping Agency revealed extensive evidence of doping during that period - as Armstrong was stripped of the seven Tour de France titles he won.

And the bronze medal he claimed in the individual time trial at the Olympics 12 years ago is now also under threat, as the IOC responds to the recent revelations. Other riders dragged into the affair will also be subject to examination.

"The IOC will now immediately start the process concerning the involvement of Lance Armstrong, other riders and particularly their entourages with respect to the Olympic Games and their future involvement with the Games," the IOC said in a statement, adding that it welcomed "all measures that will shed light on the full extent of this episode and allow the sport to reform and to move forward."

The World Anti-Doping Association has an eight-year time period for evidence of doping to be put forward, but could make an exception in this instance due to the breadth of the accusations.

Armstrong was beaten by Russia's Vyacheslav Ekimov and Jan Ullrich in Sydney. Spain's Abraham Olano, who finished fourth 12 years ago, could be the man to profit if the disgraced Armstrong loses another prize.

Armstrong's former team-mate Tyler Hamilton claimed time trial gold at the Olympics in 2004, but handed back his medal in 2011 after admitting to doping during that period. As a result, Ekimov was elevated to gold.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.