Tufts Takes Away Lance Armstrong's Honorary Degree

When Lance Armstrong gave the commencement speech at Tufts University in 2006, the school awarded him an honorary doctorate of letters. They cited his "tremendous grit and courage," and called his cycling comeback "a story of sheer determination."

Dr. Armstrong told the graduates about his decision to return to cycling:

At the end of '98, I decided to try and focus on one thing: the biggest bike race in the world. I'm not sure how you go from not sure whether or not you want to do it to, "Why don't we just win the hardest bike race in the world?" But we did it. It was all about risk; it was all about taking chances.

Because Armstrong's Tour de France wins were about as legitimate as an honorary doctorate, the Tufts Board of Trustees voted unanimously this week to rescind Armstrong's degree. "In the wake of the recent report of the United States Anti-Doping Agency and its acceptance by the International Cycling Union," the university said in a statement, "Mr. Armstrong's actions as an athlete are inconsistent with the values of Tufts University."

Armstrong was one of five people to receive honorary degrees from Tufts that year. So keep your nose clean, Rev. Gloria E. White-Hammond. We're watching you.