体坛英语新闻：WADA confirm USADA's action on Armstrong "approriate"

BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- World Anti-Doping Agency has again thrown its support behind USADA after a lengthy report with evidence to prove Lance Armstrong a doper.

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency issued the report Thursday explaining its reasons for stripping Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles and banning him for life from Olympic sports. The report, which included witness testimony from 11 former teammates, accused Armstrong of cheating through the use of EPO, blood doping and other drugs and pushing his teammates to do the same.

WADA president John Fahey said they will review the report.

"WADA welcomes the fully reasoned decision from the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) with respect to the Lance Armstrong case, and confirms that we will now, as with all cases, carefully consider its contents and the voluminous accompanying evidence," said Fahey in a statement released on WADA's official site Thursday.

"The process followed by USADA has at all times been appropriate and careful, and in compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code (Code)," he said.

"We would like to commend USADA for having the courage and the resolve to keep focused in working on this difficult case for the sake of clean athletes and the integrity of sport."

As USADA followed Armstrong's case, it has also been tussling with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) over who has the jurisdiction over the case.

WADA said the UCI "now has 21 days to determine whether it wishes to appeal the case. Thereafter, WADA has a further 21 days to determine whether we will exercise our independent right of appeal."