The commission that has investigated doping in cycling will not be recommending that Lance Armstrong ’ s lifetime ban from competitive sport is reduced . The American stripped of his seven Tour de France titles for using performance-enhancing drugs was hoping the Cycling Independent Reform Commission would be more sympathetic after he twice gave evidence to the three-man panel . But CIRC , who submitted their report to the UCI last Friday and are due to hold a media briefing in Switzerland next week , are not planning to recommend to the United States Anti-Doping Agency that they reduce their ban . Lance Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles for using performance-enhancing drugs . Armstrong waves from the podium after winning the 16th stage of the 2005 Tour de France . Some reports suggested on Sunday that lawyers representing Armstrong placed certain limitations on what CIRC could ask , which in turn was being given as a reason for the stance CIRC have now adopted . But Armstrong ’ s legal team vehemently deny that , insisting that no restrictions were placed on CIRC in their two interviews with the Texan . Only recently Armstrong suggested to the BBC that he had answered all CIRC ’ s questions candidly . ‘ At this point in my life I ’ m not out to protect anybody , ’ he said . ‘ I ’ m out to protect seven people and they all have the last name Armstrong. ’ Armstrong told the BBC that he is out to protect seven people - 'and they all have the last name Armstrong ' The American leads ahead of Bradley Wiggins during Stage 17 of the 2009 Tour de France . Armstrong is sure to be angered by the fact that a number of his contemporaries – who have also been guilty of doping offences – did not even cooperate with CIRC and yet remain senior figures in the sport . Brian Cookson , the UCI president , had warned that such a lack of cooperation would be frowned upon and it will be interesting to see if he sticks to his promise of introducing a fit-and-proper-person test for cycling team officials in the wake of the CIRC report . Cookson has said the report will make ‘ uncomfortable ’ reading for his sport . ‘ When you open a can of worms you find a lot of worms , ’ Cookson said last month at the world track cycling championships in Paris . ‘ I think it ’ s going to be very interesting - there will be a lot of uncomfortable things there. ’ Brian Cookson , the UCI president , has said that the report will make for 'uncomfortable reading ' Chris Froome revealed to Sportsmail that he has spoken to the CIRC about the problem of doping . But he also took a swipe at Armstrong , accusing him of having an ‘ agenda ’ for revealing he had spoken to CIRC in the first place . Armstrong obviously does have an agenda ; he wants his ban reduced when other dopers from his era have not been hit with the same severe sanctions . But criticising anyone for revealing they have spoken to CIRC seems a curious position to adopt when the promise of anonymity might yet protect those who haven ’ t come forward . Only last week Chris Froome revealed to Sportsmail that he too has spoken to CIRC , having wanted to give a senior rider ’ s perspective on the problems that continue to undermine the UCI ’ s efforts to clean up the sport . Particularly at a time when the UCI are pushing for the racing licence of the Astana team – that boasts current Tour de France champion Vicenzo Nibali – to be revoked .
ArmstrongLance Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles for using performance-enhancing drugs . The Cycling Independent Reform Commission are investigating doping . Lance Armstrong had hoped that they would be sympathetic with him . The commission will not recommend that his lifetime ban is reduced .