<p>Lance Armstrong has stepped down as a board member of Livestrong, the cancer-support charity he founded in 1997, the organization said Monday (November 12) .<br /><br />"Lance Armstrong has chosen to voluntarily resign from the Board of Directors of the Livestrong Foundation to spare the organization any negative effects as a result of controversy surrounding his cycling career," Livestrong chairman Jeff Garvey said in a statement.<br /><br />"We are deeply grateful to Lance for creating a cause that has served millions of cancer survivors and their families."<br /><br />Armstrong, a survivor of testicular cancer, had previously stepped down as Livestrong's chairman. Over the weekend he posted a photo of himself on a couch with his seven Tour de France yellow jerseys with the caption "Back in Austin and just layin' around."<br /><br />The 41-year-old had his seven Tour de France victories nullified and was banned from cycling for life last month after the International Cycling Union (UCI) ratified the United States Anti-Doping Agency's (USADA) sanctions against him.<br /><br />USADA published a report that said the now-retired rider had been involved in the "most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen."<br /><br />Livestrong spokeswoman Katherine McLane told Reuters that Armstrong "remains the inspiration" for the charity and is its largest donor, having contributed $7 million.<br /><br />She said Armstrong will remain involved with Livestrong, just not as a board member.<br /><br />Garvey added: "Lance Armstrong was instrumental in changing the way the world views people affected by cancer.<br /><br />"His devotion to serving survivors is unparalleled and for 15 years, he committed himself to that cause with all his heart on behalf of the Livestrong Foundation."<br /><br />Armstrong has denied ever using performance-enhancing drugs.</p>
