Throw him out of sport for life. Rid him from cycling history.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) took the only course of action available in banning Armstrong and taking away his tour titles. But is union president Pat McQuaid’s comment “there is no place in cycling for Armstrong” right?

Lance Armstrong remains the biggest name in world cycling and that’s not going to change anytime soon.

In a 2005 interview, Armstrong declared the biggest price a dope cheat would pay was the loss of his or her fans.

Seven years on, Armstrong is about to pay that price. Those who worshipped him will now loathe him.

The sponsors who threw millions of dollars at him will more than likely be lining up for payback.

Suddenly, a revered figure who had everything will be forced to live with embarrassment, not adulation.

There’s the point – is a person who had it all and lost it all not best qualified to educate others on the true cost of going down such a road? 

Anyone can stand in front of a crowd and preach the dangers of cheating, but those words would not compare to the greatest name the sport has known admitting his betrayal has cost him everything.

The question was asked in the aftermath of the UCI’s announcement whether Armstrong could ever win back the faith of those he has conned.

He doesn’t deserve that privilege, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t spend the rest of his life trying.

Convincing others not to make his life choices would be a good start.

All this depends on Lance Armstrong admitting his sins and right now it appears that’s never going to happen.