The governing body of world cycling has announced that it is stripping the disgraced American rider Lance Armstrong of all his titles and banning him for life. The President of the International Cycline Union (UCI) Pat McQuaid has described this as a landmark day for cycling. He said that Armstrong, the most successful rider in the history of Tour de France would be stripped of the seven titles he won between 1999 and 2005 and banned for life. He added, the American has no place in the sports and deserves to be forgotten. He said, the UCI supported the decision made by the US Anti-Doping Agency which accused Lance Armstrong of being at the heart of the sophisticated professional and successful doping operation ever seen. The American, who overcame cancer to return to professional cycling, won the Tour de France in seven successive years from 1999 to 2005. He has always denied doping but chose not to fight the charges filed against him.