Story highlights
- IOC: Tyler Hamilton admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs before the 2004 Games
- The IOC says riders who finished behind Hamilton in Athens will now be moved up
- Hamilton has accused Lance Armstrong of doping; Armstrong strongly denied the allegations
The International Olympic Committee has stripped American cyclist Tyler Hamilton of his 2004 gold due to doping and ordered him to return the medal that he won in the Athens Olympics.
"Hamilton, 41, who finished first in the men's individual time trial and 18th in the men's road race at Athens 2004, was disqualified from those events after he admitted to having used performance-enhancing drugs in advance of the Games," the IOC said in a press release Friday.
The IOC also ruled that the riders who finished behind Hamilton in the individual time trial in Athens will now be moved up in placement.
Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Yonas Kifle of Eritrea is cheered by spectators as he competes in the men's marathon on day 16 of the London 2012 Olympics, Sunday, August 12, the last day of the Games. See all the action as it unfolded here, and check out the best images from day 15 of competition on Saturday, August 11.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – U.S. forward Carmelo Anthony, left, and Spanish center Serge Ibaka struggle for the ball during the men's gold medal basketball game between the United States and Spain.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Juan-Carlos Navarro Spain drives to the goal past Kevin Durant and Chris Paul of the United States.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – U.S. players celebrate after defeating Spain to win the gold medal in men's basketball.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Croatia's Josip Pavic, center, celebrates with his teammates after Croatia defeated Italy in the men's water polo gold medal match.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Cuba's Livan Lopez Azcuy, left, wrestles Azerbaijan's Jabrayil Hasanov in their men's 66-kilogram freestyle bronze medal match.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – France's centerback Daniel Narcisse, center, is challenged by pivot Tobias Karlsson, left, and right back Kim Andersson of Sweden during the men's gold medal handball match between Sweden and France.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Sweat flies off Anthony Joshua of Great Britain as he takes a punch from Roberto Cammarelle of Italy during the men's super heavyweight boxing final bout. Joshua went on to win the gold medal.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – The Bulgarian team performs during the group all-around rhythmic gymnastics final.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Tamara Vega of Mexico riding Douce de Roulad from her mount in the women's modern pentathlon.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Czech Republic's Jaroslav Kulhavy is overcome by the moment after winning the men's cycling cross-country mountain bike race.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Goalkeeper Josip Pavic of Croatia makes a save during the men's water polo gold medal match between Croatia and Italy.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – France's players are joyous after winning the men's gold medal handball match between Sweden and France.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – India's Sushil Kumar reacts during his fight against Japan's Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu in their men's 66-kilogram freestyle gold medal wrestling match. Kumar won the silver medal.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Two Croatian players and a member of the coaching staff jump into the pool after winning the gold medal in men's water polo.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – U.S. basketball players Kobe Bryant, Tyson Chandler and LeBron James head to the court before the start of the men's basketball gold medal game against Spain.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – U.S. fans show their support at the men's gold medal basketball game between the United States and Spain at the North Greenwich Arena in London.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – South Africa's Burry Stander, right, and Italy's Marco Aurelio Fontana navigate the course in the men's cross-country mountain bike race at Hadleigh Farm in Benfleet, England.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Abel Kirui of Kenya gives thanks after winning the silver medal in the men's marathon at The Mall in London.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Robeisy Ramirez Carrazana of Cuba celebrates winning the gold medal by defeating Tugstsogt Nyambayar of Mongolia in the men's boxing flyweight 52-kilogram final match.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Cheers and an array of cameras greet runners as they wind their way through the streets of London during the men's marathon.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Runners pound the streets of London during the men's marathon. Stephen Kiprotich won the race to give Uganda its first gold medal of the Games.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – U.S. wrestler Jacob Varner celebrates after defeating Ukraine's Valerii Andriitsev in the men's 96-kilogram freestyle gold medal wrestling match in London.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Czech cyclist Jaroslav Kulhavy crosses the finish line ahead of Switzerland's Nino Schurter to win men's cross-country mountain bike race at Hadleigh Farm.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Tyson Chandler takes the ball to the hoop in the men's basketball gold medal game between the United States and Spain at North Greenwich Arena in London.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Kazakhstan boxer Serik Sapiyev enjoys the thrill of victory after defeating Freddie Evans of Great Britain in the men's welter 69-kilogram boxing final bout.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Livan Lopez Azcuy, in red, of Cuba grapples with Jabrayil Hasanov of Azerbaijan during the men's freestyle 66-kilogram wrestling bronze medal bout in London.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Cyclists speed through the course during the men's cycling cross-country mountain bike race at Hadleigh Farm.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Takao Isokawa, in blue, of Japan is taken down by Magomed Musaev of Kyrgyzstan in the men's freestyle wrestling 96-kilogram eighth-final match.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Hungary's pivot Szabolcs Zubai dives and takes a shot during the men's bronze medal handball match against Croatia.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Sushil Kumar, in blue, of India battles with Akzhurek Tanatarov of Kazakhstan during the men's freestyle wrestling 66-kilogram semifinal match.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Argentinian forward Andres Nocioni, left, challenges Russian center Timofey Mozgov during the men's bronze medal basketball game at the North Greenwich Arena. Russia won 81-77.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Athletes pass by Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster during the men's marathon.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Reza Mohammad Ali Yazdani of Iran is treated for an injury during the men's freestyle wrestling 96-kilogram semifinal match.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Carlos Delfino of Argentina reacts to a call during the men's basketball bronze medal game against Russia.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Dejected Bulgarian players look on during their loss to Italy in the men's volleyball bronze medal match.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Argentine guard Carlos Delfino, right, challenges Russia's Vitaliy Fridzon for the ball during the men's bronze medal basketball game.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Italy's Michal Lasko, left, and Ivan Zaytsev seal their victory with a kiss from loved ones after defeating Bulgaria in the men's volleyball bronze medal match.
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Photos: Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics
Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics – Manu Ginobili, center, of Argentina drives down the lane during the men's basketball bronze medal game against Russia. See photos from the closing ceremony.
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That means Russian Ekimov Viatcheslav Ekimov will now get the gold medal, and American cyclist Bobby Julich will get the silver. Michael Rogers of Australia, who finished fourth, will now get the bronze.
Hamilton made headlines last year when he accused fellow American cyclist Lance Armstrong of doping.
Armstrong, Hamilton's former teammate, has strongly denied those allegations.
