Lance Armstrong has been stripped of his 2000 Olympic Games cycling time trial bronze medal by the International Olympic Committee, continuing the once dominant rider’s spectacular fall from grace after a doping storm. “We have written asking for the return of the medal from the Sydney 2000 Games,” an IOC official told Reuters on Thursday after the decision to take away the last major title held by the disgraced American. The retired Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned for life by the International Cycling Union (UCI) in October after several riders testified that he took drugs. READ ON: Lance Armstrong stripped of 2000 bronze medal
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Lance Armstrong has been stripped of his 2000 Olympic Games cycling time trial bronze medal by the International Olympic Committee, continuing the once dominant rider’s spectacular fall from grace after a doping storm.

“We have written asking for the return of the medal from the Sydney 2000 Games,” an IOC official told Reuters on Thursday after the decision to take away the last major title held by the disgraced American.

The retired Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned for life by the International Cycling Union (UCI) in October after several riders testified that he took drugs.

READ ON: Lance Armstrong stripped of 2000 bronze medal

Performers take part in the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium August 12, 2012. [REUTERS/David Gray]
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Performers take part in the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium August 12, 2012. [REUTERS/David Gray]

The Olympic flag is lowered at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium August 12, 2012. [REUTERS/Phil Noble] FULL COVERAGE: The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games 
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The Olympic flag is lowered at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium August 12, 2012. [REUTERS/Phil Noble]

FULL COVERAGE: The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games 

Musician Fatboy Slim performs during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium [REUTERS/David Gray] FULL COVERAGE: The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games 
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Musician Fatboy Slim performs during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium [REUTERS/David Gray]

FULL COVERAGE: The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games 

A giant model of a portrait of John Lennon is made with panels carried by performers during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium August 12, 2012. [REUTERS/Sergio Moraes] FULL COVERAGE: The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games 
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A giant model of a portrait of John Lennon is made with panels carried by performers during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium August 12, 2012. [REUTERS/Sergio Moraes]

FULL COVERAGE: The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games 

Pole vaulting Olympians [REUTERS/Phil Noble]

FULL COVERAGE: The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games

Eighteen gold medals for Michael Phelps after winning his final-ever Olympic race. PHOTO: Michael Phelps, Matthew Grevers (L) and Brendan Hansen (R) of the U.S. celebrate after team mate Nathan Adrian swam to win the gold in the men’s 4x100m medley relay final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre August 4, 2012. REUTERS/Jorge Silva  FULL COVERAGE: The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games
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Eighteen gold medals for Michael Phelps after winning his final-ever Olympic race.

PHOTO: Michael Phelps, Matthew Grevers (L) and Brendan Hansen (R) of the U.S. celebrate after team mate Nathan Adrian swam to win the gold in the men’s 4x100m medley relay final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre August 4, 2012. REUTERS/Jorge Silva 

FULL COVERAGE: The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games

The first Saudi woman to compete at the Olympics may have bowed out after only 80 seconds on the judo mat on Friday but she was hailed as a heroine by many web-users in her homeland and given an enthusiastic reception by the Olympic crowd.

Only a week ago, softly spoken and shy teenager Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shaherkani had been labelled a “whore” on Twitter by some in conservative Saudi Arabia, but that criticism has been since drowned out by an outpouring of support and applause.

Her appearance had been in doubt due to wrangling days over whether judo authorities would allow her to wear an Islamic headscarf while competing, but in the end she entered the arena wearing something akin to a swimming cap.

“I’m really happy to be at the Olympics and proud to represent the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and thank all those who stood with me,” she told Reuters, clutching her older brother’s hand as they negotiated a media scrum.

Shaherkani, one of two Saudi women chosen to compete at the Games, was defeated in the first round of the +78kg judo category by Melissa Mojica of Puerto Rico.

READ ON: Saudi’s first woman bows out after symbolic show

The United States powered to gold in the flagship women’s Olympic eight on Thursday after fighting off fierce rivals Canada to maintain their stunning six-year winning streak and cap a thrilling day of racing on Dorney Lake. The American women’s crew are likely to receive a heroes welcome following their emphatic win on the course to the west of London which confirmed their dominance of the event. Having taken a half a length lead over Canada and the Netherlands in the early stages they had to hold on as their neighbours came back at them before 25,000 roaring fans packed into the course to the west of London. “This was awesome, at the end I don’t think I could have pulled one more stroke,” Caroline Lind told reporters on the side of the lake after they had earlier punched the air and splashed the water as they crossed the line. “We got the gold and that is what mattered.” READ ON: U.S. rowers storm to gold 
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The United States powered to gold in the flagship women’s Olympic eight on Thursday after fighting off fierce rivals Canada to maintain their stunning six-year winning streak and cap a thrilling day of racing on Dorney Lake.

The American women’s crew are likely to receive a heroes welcome following their emphatic win on the course to the west of London which confirmed their dominance of the event.

Having taken a half a length lead over Canada and the Netherlands in the early stages they had to hold on as their neighbours came back at them before 25,000 roaring fans packed into the course to the west of London.

“This was awesome, at the end I don’t think I could have pulled one more stroke,” Caroline Lind told reporters on the side of the lake after they had earlier punched the air and splashed the water as they crossed the line. “We got the gold and that is what mattered.”

READ ON: U.S. rowers storm to gold 

TODAY IN LONDON: Full coverage of the Olympic games from Reuters