Armstrong had been awarded to key to the city less than twelve months ago but Adelaide City Council have voted to rescind the honour in light of the doping scandal that has rocked cycling and disgraced the former Tour god.

The American cyclist is the first of the 33 recipients of the honour to have his key taken back, although it is understood that his name will be removed from the honours board but the key itself will not be physically retrieved.

Armstrong survived cancer and won no fewer than seven Tour De France titles, making him a hero to millions and a cycling figurehead, but accusations that he was at the centre of a widespread ring to systematically use banned performance enhancing drugs and blood transfusions to avoid detection, have rocked the sport of cycling and left Armstrong’s reputation in tatters.

Photo: Getty.