Independent Commission to be established into UCI anti-doping record

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thom

____
Location
The Borough
The UCI statement on their website:

The Management Committee of the International Cycling Union (UCI), meeting in Geneva today, decided a number of critical measures in the wake of the USADA ‘Reasoned Decision’ on Lance Armstrong. The Committee acknowledged that decisive action was needed in response to the report.

With respect to Lance Armstrong and the implications of the USADA sanctions which it endorsed on Monday 22 October, the Management Committee decided not to award victories to any other rider or upgrade other placings in any of the affected events.
The Committee decided to apply this ruling from now on to any competitive sporting results disqualified due to doping for the period from 1998 to 2005, without prejudice to the statute of limitation. The Committee also called on Armstrong and all other affected riders to return the prize money they had received.
The UCI Management Committee acknowledged that a cloud of suspicion would remain hanging over this dark period – but while this might appear harsh for those who rode clean, they would understand there was little honour to be gained in reallocating places.
Second, while the Management Committee expressed confidence that enormous strides had been made in the fight against doping since 2005, in order to ensure that UCI and cycling could move forward with the confidence of all parties, the governing body also decided to establish a fully independent external Commission to look into the various allegations made about UCI relating to the Armstrong affair.
The Committee agreed that part of the independent Commission’s remit would be to find ways to ensure that persons caught for doping were no longer able to take part in the sport, including as part of an entourage.
In the week of 5 November 2012, therefore, the Management Committee will announce which independent sports body will nominate the members of the Commission and, with the UCI Management Committee, agree appropriate terms of reference.
Following this, individual members of the independent Commission will be appointed as soon as possible with a view to their report and recommendations being published no later than 1 June 2013.

Finally, while continuing strongly to maintain the merits of UCI’s case, the Committee decided to seek to suspend the UCI legal action against journalist Paul Kimmage, pending the findings of the independent Commission. UCI President Pat McQuaid and Honorary President Hein Verbruggen who are individual parties to the case will similarly seek to put their cases on hold.
UCI President Pat McQuaid said: “As I said on Monday, UCI is determined to turn around this painful episode in the history of our sport. We will take whatever actions are deemed necessary by the independent Commission and we will put cycling back on track.
“Today, cycling is a completely different sport from what it was in the period 1998-2005. Riders are now subject to the most innovative and effective anti-doping procedures and regulations in sport. Nevertheless, we have listened to the world’s reaction to the Lance Armstrong affair and have taken these additional decisive steps in response to the grave concerns raised.”

Kimmage case on hold for now

Edit, bugger, will ask mods to amend title re doping/anti-doping ;-) (Thanks Mods !)
 

GrumpyGregry

Here for rides.
And will the ToR include making recs about Pat and Verbruggen stepping aside I wonder?
 
OP
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thom

thom

____
Location
The Borough
And will the ToR include making recs about Pat and Verbruggen stepping aside I wonder?
If anything underhand is established then their positions would be untenable so I don't think that's necessarily key.
The good thing is this idea was not originated in the UCI so it's clear external pressure can have an effect.
 
Not stepping aside and a chilling 'agree the terms of reference' sentence. There's a bit of swerving and deflecting going on but I'm not sensing root and branch reform here.
 

bof

Senior member. Oi! Less of the senior please
Location
The world
Not stepping aside and a chilling 'agree the terms of reference' sentence. There's a bit of swerving and deflecting going on but I'm not sensing root and branch reform here.
It depends on who the independent sports body is - to be fair, UCI couldnt announce that as they have to get one to agree. If its not credible it wont get credible commission members. And a credible commission would insist on on proper terms of reference.

I'd be quite happy to see it only consisting of lawyers and medics etc. from outside cycling as then it could not be accused by anyone of having an ax to grind.
 

tigger

Über Member
Interesting developments. Seems like a fair bit of pressure has been applied to McQuaid and Verbruggen there?

The Independent commission is interesting. I thought this would be similar to what Vaughters was advocating but I it seems to be an investigation into the UCI and its officers in relation to recent allegations of corruption. I find the second part of this odd as its a seperate issue as such? Or am I missing something?

the governing body also decided to establish a fully independent external Commission to look into the various allegations made about UCI relating to the Armstrong affair.
The Committee agreed that part of the independent Commission’s remit would be to find ways to ensure that persons caught for doping were no longer able to take part in the sport, including as part of an entourage.
 

DogTired

Über Member
It depends on who the independent sports body is - to be fair, UCI couldnt announce that as they have to get one to agree. If its not credible it wont get credible commission members. And a credible commission would insist on on proper terms of reference.

I'd be quite happy to see it only consisting of lawyers and medics etc. from outside cycling as then it could not be accused by anyone of having an ax to grind.

The UCI have history in doing investigations to try and bury bad news instead of looking at the real problem, e.g. getting Emile Vrijman to 'investigate' Voldemorts positive EPO which resulted in a report that was widely discredited and not deemed independent.

There was an article in Private Eye about how to bury issues like this. Just stitch things up at the terms-of-reference stage. This is going on now at the BBC with regard to Savile. The ToR for that looks at the historic context, not up until the present day....
 

GrumpyGregry

Here for rides.
It depends on who the independent sports body is - to be fair, UCI couldnt announce that as they have to get one to agree. If its not credible it wont get credible commission members. And a credible commission would insist on on proper terms of reference.

I'd be quite happy to see it only consisting of lawyers and medics etc. from outside cycling as then it could not be accused by anyone of having an ax to grind.
It will be packed full of blazer wearing sports administrators who will have "there but for the grace of God go I" seared into their minds.
 
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OP
thom

thom

____
Location
The Borough
The Independent commission is interesting. I thought this would be similar to what Vaughters was advocating but I it seems to be an investigation into the UCI and its officers in relation to recent allegations of corruption. I find the second part of this odd as its a seperate issue as such? Or am I missing something?
USADA had a pop at them too - with Bruyneel's case still to come, that could be quite revealing.
Might be in response/anticipation of that.
 
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