Lance Armstrong v USADA: how the drama unfolded The first shot June 12: The United States Anti-Doping Agency informs Lance Armstrong that procedures against him have commenced over allegations he used performance-enhancing drugs. Armstrong denies the allegations and says USADA is "motivated by spite." Opening legal skirmishes June 22: Armstrong's lawyers call for USADA to end its pursuit of the allegations. Seven days later the USADA review board unanimously recommends bringing charges, leaving Armstrong with the option of challenging them at an arbitration hearing. Blocking suit dismissed July 9: Armstrong files federal lawsuit to stop USADA. Federal judge dismisses the suit. The next day three former associates of Armstrong get lifetime bans: US Postal team doctor Luis Garcia del Moral, consulting doctor Michele Ferrari and trainer Jose 'Pepe' Marti. Deadline day July 11: USADA gives Armstrong 30 more days to answer their charges that he used performance-enhancing drugs. On Aug 20 a US federal judge once again dismisses Armstrong's efforts to stop USADA's case from proceeding. No contest Aug 23: Armstrong announces that he will no longer fight the doping charges and the next day USADA strips him of all his results dating back to Aug 1, 1998, including seven consecutive Tour de France wins, and hands him a lifetime ban. Armstrong remains defiant. No appeal from UCI Sept 7: UCI president Pat McQuaid says that cycling's world governing body will not appeal against USADA's decision to strip Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles unless USADA's case file gives serious reasons for them to do otherwise. Endgame Oct 10: USADA sends the UCI a detailed report on its doping case against Armstrong and the US Postal team and also publishes it on its website. It says that Armstrong and the team ran the most sophisticated doping programme in sport.