GENEVA -- The seven Tour de France titles stripped from Lance Armstrong will not be awarded to any riders, and the disgraced American and his teammates should return their prize money, cyclings governing body ruled Friday. Acknowledging "a cloud of suspicion would remain hanging over this dark period," the UCI said the list of Tour winners will remain blank for the years from 1999 to 2005. "This might appear harsh for those who rode clean (but) they would understand there was little honour to be gained in reallocating places," the UCI said after a board meeting in Geneva. The UCI said Armstrong and "all other affected riders" in the case should return their prize money. That amounts to almost $4 million in Tour money from Armstrong. Armstrong attorney Sean Breen declined to comment on the prize money demand. The UCIs decision not to award Armstrongs Tour victories to other riders was welcomed in a statement from the Tour de Frances organizers. "This decision fully coincides with the wishes expressed by the organizers of the race ten days ago," the statement said. The UCI also ordered an independent outside investigation to examine allegations about the UCIs own conduct and relations with Armstrong raised by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency report that detailed systematic cheating by the Texan and his teammates. UCI has been accused of accepting $125,000 from Armstrong to cover up suspicious doping tests. Riders and officials involved in doping programs will also be targeted by the inquiry commission. "Part of the independent commissions remit would be to find ways to ensure that persons caught for doping were no longer able to take part in the sport, including as part of an entourage," the UCI said in a statement. In turn, that move prompted a statement from John Fahey, president of the World Anti-Doping Agency. "As an independent body itself, WADA supports the decision to set up an independent external commission to examine the problem of doping in cycling," Fahey said. "The most important thing is for this issue to be dealt with once and for all, and WADA looks forward to the release of further details on the commissions make-up and terms of reference." A potentially explosive defamation suit filed by the UCI, its president Pat McQuaid and predecessor Hein Verbruggen against Irish journalist and former Tour rider Paul Kimmage has been put on hold, the UCI board said. Kimmage was scheduled to defend his claims that cyclings leaders protected Armstrong at a Dec. 12 hearing in Vevey, Switzerland. Kimmage has received more than $70,000 in donations from cycling fans to fight his case. Armstrongs expulsion from the sport he dominated was confirmed Monday when the UCI acknowledged the USADA findings that his teams ran "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen." Fridays meeting of the UCI board was a necessary legal step to confirm a seven-year hole in the Tour de France roll of honour. "UCI is determined to turn around this painful episode in the history of our sport," McQuaid said in a statement. "We will take whatever actions are deemed necessary by the independent commission and we will put cycling back on track." An "independent sports body" will be chosen by UCI within two weeks to nominate members of the advisory panel, which is scheduled to report back by June 2013. As well as leaving the Tour winners list blank from 1999-2005, the UCI agreed "not to award victories to any other rider or upgrade other placings in any of the affected events." Other stage-race titles lost by Armstrong include the 2001 Tour of Switzerland and Dauphine Libere in 2002 and 03. "The (management) committee decided to apply this ruling from now on to any competitive sporting results disqualified due to doping for the period from 1998 to 2005, without prejudice to the statute of limitation," the UCI said. The UCI did not directly address the status of Armstrongs Olympic time-trial bronze medal from the 2000 Sydney Games, which could be stripped by the International Olympic Committee. Further revelations of doping are expected in an Italian prosecutors probe into sports doctor Michele Ferrari, who was identified by USADA as a central figure in the doping programs for Armstrong and the U.S. Postal Service team. Ferrari was also banned from sport for life by USADA after he chose not to contest its findings at arbitration. USADA chief executive Travis Tygart has urged the UCI to pursue more doping investigations, and the governing body had talked of seeking to offer limited amnesty in exchange for confessions. "There are many more details of doping that are hidden, many more doping doctors, and corrupt team directors and the omerta has not yet been fully broken," Tygart said Monday. Five riders finished second behind Armstrong in his record run of seven straight Tour wins: Alex Zuelle of Switzerland, Jan Ullrich of Germany, Joseba Beloki of Spain, Andreas Kloeden of Germany -- later a teammate of Armstrong at Astana and RadioShack -- and Ivan Basso of Italy. Ullrich, the 1997 winner who was denied three more titles by Armstrong, has said he does not want to be upgraded in the standings. Armstrong is one of three riders stripped of cyclings biggest prize but the only one not to be replaced. When Alberto Contador lost his 2010 Tour victory for a positive doping test, organizers held a ceremony to award the yellow jersey to Luxembourgs Andy Schleck. In 2006, Oscar Pereiro was awarded the victory after the doping disqualification of American rider Floyd Landis. Armstrong has not been wiped entirely from cyclings record books. He remains the UCIs world champion in the 1993 road race and winner of the San Sebastian and Walloon Arrow one-day classics in 1995 and 1996, respectively. Nike Air Max 90 Femme Soldes . Coming off just their third victory of the month, the Marlins and red-hot ace Anibal Sanchez try to take the rubber match of tonights three-game series at Safeco Field. With the popular rock band U2 taking over Sun Life Stadium back in Florida, the Marlins are playing as the home team in Seattles Safeco Field. Nike Air Max Femme . Theyre ready for a "street fight," if thats the route to the NBA finals. 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Frustration was setting in after 5-2 loss to San Jose on Sunday followed Fridays 2-1 defeat to Anaheim at the Canadian Tire Centre, and Spezza felt it was time to clear the air. "You can tell guys left the rink (Sunday) night frustrated, myself included," Spezza said. "When you get frustrated its useless. Being frustrated and not talking about it can be a useless emotion so when you get frustrated as a group, and I sensed I was frustrated and the guys were frustrated, that its important to talk about it so things dont just fester." The decision to make it a players only meeting was to allow everyone to have a voice and not feel censored. Spezza said the team talked for about 35 minutes and is hopeful the dialogue will result in a better performance Tuesday night when the Senators take on the Chicago Blackhawks. "The worse thing you can do is to just keep letting things go the same way without discussing things and keep coming to the rink and continuing not playing how we want to play," said Spezza. "It was a good, open conversation. We talked about our starts not being where they want to be and maybe how we approach games maybe has to change." Of the Senators 11 games this season they have given up the first goal eight times. On both Friday and Sunday they gave up a two-goal lead. Most alarming over the past two games has been the Senators play in their own end and the number of mistakes being made that ultimately result in goals against. "Mistakes happen, thats just the nature of this game," said goalie Craig Anderson. "Right now, for whatever reason, were making mistakes and the puck ends up in our net. Its one of those things where we need to be a little more assertive and a little more confident in what were doing out there as opposed to trying to play a little timid. "I think everyones trying to play not to make a mistake as opposed to just playing hard and live with the mistake you make." Senators coach Paul MacLean is hopeful the meeting will help players find solutions, otherwise he says things will likely be taken out of their control and "the next thing that happens is people start leaving." "We feel we have a real good group and we have an opportunity to be very good," he said. "We have some growing pains right now, but at the end of the day if things dont get better changes get made -- thats the history of the game.dddddddddddd" Overall MacLean has no issue with the effort being put forth; if anything he believes its a matter of individuals trying to do too much. He also admitted that getting the puck out of their own end has been a concern. "Weve been known in the past as being a pretty efficient team and getting out of our zone and not spending a lot of time there," said MacLean. "To this point in time we havent been that. For me right now our execution or our passing hasnt been to the level it needs to be." Its clear much of the Senators troubles stem from play in their own end, but MacLean says Anderson "has been one of our best if not our best player." He also on to highlight out the play of backup goaltender Robin Lehner and forward Zack Smith. As a whole the Senators defensive corps could be better. Erik Karlsson has been great offensively, but he has made glaring mistakes defensively. The young trio of Jared Cowen, Eric Gryba and Patrick Wiercioch have all struggled at times as well. "Our forwards have to help them more than they have to this point, but they also have to help themselves," said MacLean. "They need to play better. They need to get themselves settled in and pass the puck better than they have." Of the Senators 11 games, eight have been against Western Conference opponents, including two against the both the league-leading Sharks and third-place Ducks. "Right now were nearing the end of probably the toughest stretch in our schedule as far as opponents," said MacLean. "Thats not an excuse, but weve played some very good teams over the first 12 games of the year, finishing off (Tuesday) in Chicago. Weve had some competition which has been a test for us and have we come through it, has there been a little bit of adversity. "This team has gone through adversity in the past and come out of it a pretty good group and a pretty dedicated group and thats my expectation is what will happen." Notes: No decision has been made on the Senators starting goaltender for Tuesdays game. LW Clarke MacArthur could be back in the lineup after missing Sundays game with a minor injury. MacArthur took part in a full practice Monday and said he would have to wait and see how his body reacted to the workout. The Senators havent won in Chicago since the 2000-01 season. cheap jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '