“My name is Lance Armstrong, I’m a cancer survivor," the Texan-born cycling star declared last week at the World Cancer Convention in Montreal. "And yes, I won the Tour de France seven times.”

After having famously beaten the potentially fatal disease, Armstrong is now in the crucial final stretch in the battle for his professional life. And he is fighting back.

On August 23, media around the world were reporting that he had been banned for life and stripped of his record seven consecutive Tour de France titles by the United States Doping Agency (USADA) after Armstrong's announcement that he would cease his legal defense against the agency's accusations that he had used used banned substances as far back as 1996, including steroids and the blood-booster EPO.

But after several days of silence, his famous self-confidence was back on full display in Montreal last Wednesday. “No, no, I'm absolutely not afraid,” said Armstrong, according to French daily Le Figaro and the news agency AFP.

Even in the face of the press reports of his demise, Armstrong may have reason to be confident. The fact is that only the International Cycling Union (UCI) can decide whether the 40-year-old cyclist will be able to keep his seven Tour de France titles.