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Summary Fate of Lance Armstrong could take a decisive turn when International Cycling Union meets Monday.
For some observers, the credibility of the sports governing body, the UCI, may also be on the line.Armstrongs reputation as the cancer survivor who claimed a record seven consecutive Tour de France victories is now in tatters after he was handed a life ban by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).The USADA have also stripped Armstrong of his wins after finding him guilty of being at the centre of the biggest doping programme in sporting history.On Monday in Geneva, the UCI, whose president Pat McQuaid succeeded Dutchman Hein Verbruggen only in 2006 -- a year after Armstrong had secured his seventh and final yellow jersey -- is expected to give its official ruling having spent weeks studying the thousands of pages of the USADA report.If the UCI does not support USADAs recommendations, the case could be decided by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.Backing the USADA would boldly underline the UCIs ongoing commitment to the fight against drugs cheats as well as highlight its desire to confine the drug-fuelled successes of the past well behind it.Although McQuaid is credited with introducing the much-heralded blood passport programme -- a proven deterrent for cheats -- he has often come in for criticism in his years in charge of the UCI.Criticised for not seeing the harsh reality and the extent of doping in the sport, he has arguably also fallen victim to the legacy of his predecessor.
