SINGAPORE — The president of the International Cycling Union defended his organization Tuesday against accusations it covered up a positive doping test from Lance Armstrong and questioned the motives of a U.S. probe into professional cycling.
Investigators have contacted sponsors and reportedly former teammates of Armstrong, who dominated cycling with seven Tour de France victories from 1999 to 2005. Their work gained global attention after Floyd Landis, who was stripped of his 2006 Tour victory, admitted doping and implicated Armstrong and other competitors.
UCI chief Pat McQuaid wondered whether the federal probe was based on facts or the product of Landis seeking revenge against the cycling community following the taint on his career.
“When you look at the way the investigation has come about, you have to ask whether there is a genuine investigation or whether there are vendettas going on here,” McQuaid said.
Landis has claimed Armstrong tested positive for EPO at the Tour de Suisse in 2002 and paid off then-UCI president Hein Verbruggen to keep it quiet. Armstrong won the 2001 Swiss race, but did not compete there in 2002.
McQuaid denied the UCI covered up an Armstrong positive test in exchange for payments of $25,000 in 2002 for its anti-doping program and $100,000 in 2005 for the purchase of a Sysmex machine used for analyzing blood.
Da Ros wins appeal
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — The Court of Arbitration for Sport has reduced a 20-year ban imposed on Italian cyclist Gianni Da Ros to a four-year suspension for doping and supplying human growth hormone and steroids to a former teammate.
The Associated Press
