Ulman Cancer Fund will continue to work with Armstrong's foundation

With the announcement Wednesday that Lance Armstrong would leave his role as chairman of his foundation, a local organization with strong ties to Armstrong and his work said it would continue to work with they beleaguered cyclist.

Brock Yetso, president and CEO of the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults, declined a request for an interview, but issued a statement:

"As Lance Armstrong steps down as chairman of the board of Livestrong, the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults continues our work with Livestrong to support those affected by cancer," Yetso said. "We are confident that Livestrong will continue to focus on it's mission under the leadership of our Founder, President & CEO, Doug Ulman and new Chairman, Jeff Garvey. We thank Lance Armstrong for his enormous dedication and passion on behalf of cancer survivors worldwide."

Armstrong stepped down as chairman a week after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency went public with its evidence against him, claiming Armstrong and his winning Tour de France teams "ran the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen," according to the agency's report.

Armstrong denied the doping charges, but did not fight the USADA accusations through arbitration because he said the process was unfair, according to news reports.

Armstrong and his foundation have close ties to Howard County. Since 1997, Livestrong has worked in partnership with the Ulman Cancer Fund, which was founded by County Executive Ken Ulman's brother, Doug, who is now president and CEO of Livestrong. The fund, started in Howard County, has offices in Columbia and Baltimore.

Armstrong was in Howard County for the Revolution Half-Full Triathlon at Centennial Park on Oct. 7, and spoke at Centennial High School the evening before.

He won the event, but organizers — including the Ulman Cancer Fund — had to drop the triathlon's official sanctioning, after the USADA in August stripped Armstrong of his Tour de France titles and banned the athlete from competing in sports governed by federations that follow the World Anti-Doping Code.