The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency has banned three former staff members and consultants for Lance Armstrong's winning Tour de France teams.
Team doctor, Luis Garcia del Moral, consulting doctor Michele Ferrari, and trainer Jose "Pepe" Marti worked for Armstrong's U.S. Postal Service team and have now be alleged to have taken part in a doping scheme on the teams.
USADA announced the lifetime sports ban Tuesday, following the last day the accused had to contest the allegations.
"Permanently banning these individuals from sport is a powerful statement that protects the current and next generation of athletes from their influence, and preserves the integrity of future competition," USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart said in a statement.
According to USADA rules, Moral, Marti and Ferrari only had until Monday to refute the claims, otherwise the USADA could move forward with the sanction.
"The respondent chose not to waste resources by moving forward with the arbitration process, which would only reveal what they already know to be the truth of their doping activity, Tygart said.
The punishment restricts each individual from involvement in sports associated with the World Anti-Doping Agency code.
None of the accused reside within the United States, however Ferrari, who resides in Italy, had already faced a lifetime ban by the Italian cycling federation in 2002. Ferrari is accused of creating a mixture of testosterone and olive oil that riders used to quickly recover from wearing physical activity. Marti, who lives in Spain, gave riders performance-enhancing drugs in Europe, while Moral, also a resident of Spain, helped riders boost endurance by teaching them banned blood transfusion techniques.
With doping charges already being held against him, Armstrong has said he has no involvement in the behavior the doctors are being charged for. Former team manager, Johan Bruyneel, is however being charged in the case.
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