Lance Armstrong stripped of 2000 Olympic medal by IOC

Lance Armstrong's trophy case continues to clear out, as the International Olympic Committee told the cyclist Wednesday night to return the bronze medal he won in the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, Australia.

Armstrong's confession to performance-enhancing drug use, after years and years of vehement denials to repeated allegations and rumors, will air in an interview with Oprah Winfrey on Thursday, though it is reported that the IOC had made their decision outside of that fact.

Instead, the IOC was reportedly waiting for the conclusion of Armstrong's appeal period, an option which he declined after the International Cycling Union stripped him of every race result since 1998, including his seven Tour de France titles.

The IOC reportedly first thought about taking back the medal, won after Armstrong's second Tour de France conquest, in December but chose to let the 21-day appeal process run its course. A letter was then sent Wednesday informing Armstrong of the decision.

The bronze medal was won by Armstrong in a road time trial event.

Armstrong's interview with Oprah Winfrey will air Thursday night on OWN. He is expected to come clean and admit to doping.