By Tom Degun

Christian PrudhommeOctober 23 - Christian Prudhomme, the race director of the Tour de France, said Lance Armstrong should have to repay all the winnings he made from the event after being officially stripped of his seven titles by the International Cycling Union (UCI) yesterday.

It has been estimated that the 41-year-old Texan won around £2.4 million ($3.8 million/€2.9 million), some of which was shared with his US Postal teammates, for winning the Tour de France in seven successive years from 1999 to 2005.

But Prudhomme feels that having been stripped of the titles UCI, after the body decided not to not appeal the decision taken by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), he should be forced to repay the money.

"The UCI rules are clear," he said.

"When a rider is disqualified, he must pay the prize money back."

He also said he is pushing for the record books, controlled by the UCI, to show no winner from 1999 to 2005.

"We hope that there is no winner in these editions," he said.

"A formal decision must be taken by the UCI but for us, very clearly, there must be a blank record."

The comments come as sports brand Oakley became the latest company to end its sponsorship of Armstrong.

Lance ArmstongLance Armstrong has now been officially stripped of his seven titles by the UCI

Sportswear manufacturer Nike, cycle maker Trek and brewer Anheuser-Busch have already ended their relationship with him.

"Based on the UCI's decision and the overwhelming evidence that USADA presented, Oakley has severed its longstanding relationship with Lance Armstrong, effective immediately," said a statement.

Oakley however, will continue to support Armstrong's Livestrong foundation – the cancer charity from which he stepped down as chairman last week.

"We believe the Livestrong Foundation has been a positive force in the lives of many affected by cancer and, at this time, Oakley will continue to support its noble goals," added the statement.

Meanwhile, Armstrong has removed the Tour de France titles from his Twitter account.

The phrase_7-time_Tour_de_France_winner_evaporated_from_his_lancearmstrong_profile_along_with_a_reference_to_triathlon_in_which_he_is_also_now_banned_from_elite_competition_as_a_drug_cheatThe phrase "7-time Tour de France winner" has been removed from Lance Armstrong's Twitter profile as has a reference to triathlon

It had read: "Father of 5 amazing kids, 7-time Tour de France winner, full time cancer fighter, part time triathlete."

It now says: "Raising my 5 kids. Fighting Cancer. Swim, bike, run and golf whenever I can."

The UCI management committee will meet on Friday (October 26) to discuss the "exact sporting consequences" of the decision, including whether the titles and prize money will be redistributed.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will await the UCI meeting and further information before a decision is made on the bronze medal Armstrong won in the time trial at Sydney 2000.

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