Saturday 25 August 2012

Indurain Seeks Single Drugs Authority

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Former champion Miguel Indurain says Lance Armstrong should keep his seven Tour de France titles until drug charges are proven by a single authority recognised by everyone in the sport.

Five-time Tour winner Indurain says "until an organisation recognised by all decides to the contrary, the Tour victories are his."

Indurain, who won five straight Tours from 1991-95, says there are too many national and international bodies with differing interests in the fight against doping.

Indurain also calls the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's case against Armstrong "strange," claiming its pursuit of the American was "without scruples."

The Spanish cyclist, writing in Saturday's Marca newspaper, says he isn't surprised Armstrong chose not to contest charges from USADA, which also banned him from professional cycling.

Armstrong, meanwhile, was back in his element -- on a bike and in a race -- for a few hours Saturday in Aspen, Colo., where he was competing in a mountain bike competition.

Asked if he was ready, Armstrong smiled and said, "I hope so. ... This is going to be hard for all of us."

There were only a handful of fans at the start of the Power of Four race, a 36-mile trek that includes plenty of climbing.

Decked out in black and gold and sporting a Livestrong emblem on his jersey, the 41-year-old Armstrong tinkered with his bike and gave a kiss to girlfriend Anna Hansen before pedalling off.


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