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Friday, 11 October 2013

Cookson Starts UCI Changes

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New International Cycling Union (UCI) president Brian Cookson has contacted the World Anti-Doping Agency to start talks over an independent investigation into the sport's governing body.

Cookson based his recent election campaign on restoring trust in the UCI which has had acrimonious relationships with doping authorities.

"We've started the work of establishing dialogue with Wada to plan how we will proceed with the independent investigation into the UCI's past," said Cookson.

"We have also been making contact with other key stakeholders in this area, including Usada [United States Anti-Doping Authority], other national anti-doping organisations and the French sports ministry."

Englishman Cookson, 62, who was the former president of British Cycling, also confirmed the decision to "revoke the age limit of 28 that existed for UCI women's teams".

Up until now most riders in a women's team competing at a UCI event have had to be aged below 28. He also said there were plans to form a new commission for women's cycling "to help facilitate the growth of women's elite racing".

Meanwhile, Cookson said the UCI had withdrawn legal action against journalist Paul Kimmage.

In January 2012, former UCI presidents Pat McQuaid, who Cookson replaced, and Hein Verbruggen initiated legal proceedings against Kimmage, claiming they were defamed by articles in the Sunday Times and L'Equipe which discussed doping and the governing body.

Kimmage said: "I am very relieved, it has been a very difficult 20 months and I hope this means things have turned a corner.

"Brian Cookson has my every best wish but he is going to need some time and space to clear up the mess.

"I do believe however that Hein Verbruggen should be removed absolutely from any position at the UCI."

Tuesday, 23 October 2012

Indurain Claims Armstrong Innocence

Photo: Belga

Five-time Tour de France winner Miguel Indurain believes Lance Armstrong is not guilty of doping.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) has accepted the findings of the United States Anti-Doping Agency's (Usada) investigation into doping and stripped Armstrong of his seven Tour titles.

"Even now I believe in his innocence. He has always respected all the rules," Indurain told Radio Marca in Spain.

"I'm a bit surprised. It's strange that this was only based on testimonies."

Indurain, who won his titles between 1991 and 1995, added: "I think he will come back and appeal and try to show that he played fair for all those years."

The UCI's decision to annul Armstrong's results from 1 August 1998 once again makes Spanish legend Indurain the joint record-holder in the Tour, alongside Belgium's Eddy Merckx and Frenchmen Bernard Hinault and Jacques Anquetil.

He is not the only cyclist to have spoken out in support of Armstrong.

British cyclist Roger Hammond called the Texan a "fantastic" team-mate who "never, ever" offered him performance-enhancing substances.

Fellow British cyclist Alex Dowsett, who rode for the US-based Trek-LiveStrong squad, called Armstrong a "legend" for his battle back from cancer.

And Olympic gold medallist and USA cycling coach Jamie Staff told BBC South East Today: "He's been kind of a scapegoat really.

"A lot of people have done it, probably everyone in his generation.

"He seems to be the one everyone is picking on, probably as he was the most successful."

Friday, 28 September 2012

UCI Critical of Armstrong USADA Delay

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The International Cycling Union (UCI) has criticised the United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) for a "continued failure to produce" the evidence that found Lance Armstrong guilty of doping.

Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France wins and handed a lifetime ban by Usada after stating he would not challenge doping charges.

The UCI must ratify the sanction and will receive the details by 15 October.

UCI president Pat McQuaid said: "We thought Usada were better prepared."

And he added: "The UCI had no reason to assume that a full case file did not exist but USADA's continued failure to produce the decision is now a cause for concern.

"It is over a month since Usada sanctioned Lance Armstrong."

A UCI statement added that it was unusual that Usada was still gathering evidence after finding the 40-year-old American guilty. Armstrong has always denied doping.

"It seems that it would have been more useful for Usada to have used the time of the Tour de France, the Olympic Games and the Road World Championships to prepare their case in full rather than to make announcements," the UCI said.

"It is at very least unusual that Usada would still be gathering evidence against a person after it has found that person guilty.

“It is also troubling that they would claim to have had no contact with us which is inaccurate”Usada chief Travis Tygart

"The UCI assumes that the reasons for any difficulty in putting the evidence together will be explained in Usada's decision."

It added: "The UCI... has learnt of the reported delays through the media and not by any official communication from Usada.

"The sooner the UCI receives the decision and case file the sooner the UCI can provide its response."

Usada boss Travis Tygart told Reuters his agency had been in response with the governing body.

"It is also troubling that they would claim to have had no contact with us which is inaccurate," the Usada chief executive said.

"As they know we will be providing them the 'reasoned decision' no later than 15 October through the process and at that time the questions contained in their publicly released statement today will be answered."