Reforming the UCI

[thom]

sorry, not sure of the relevance to the changing of the UCI..

It was to point out that for McQuaid's son to have a go at LeMonde (who complained about the UCI), making a doping allegation and calling him a cheat, is a bit rich given his business and other relationships to Sean Kelly (he cycled on Kelly's team and I believe he is Kelly's agent now).
I'm not specifically trying to have a go at Kelly here but pointing out that A McQuaid willfully associates with somebody who has proven doping blemishes in his past, so he's not really in a position to make unsubstantiated accusations against LeMonde.

 

[johnr]

as much as I disagree with andrew mcquaids' twitter statement surly he still as the right to make stupid comments, irrespective of whom he knows or works with..

The right, yes. But relationships between protagonists and their relationship to drugs, now and historically, is vital information as we enter the next phase. Most of the pro-status quo (at least)-pro-dope (at worst) camp are chucking dirt or saying 'let's move on'. Only the Four Amigos and Boonen seem to be maintaining the 'he didn't do nuffin'' line.

We'll need to note their names and alliances carefully to check against new structures as they emerge before accepting any assurances that fundamental change has occurred.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I'd missed it in the British press but l'Equipe has published a cycling manifesto put together by The Times, le Soir, het Nieuwsbad and l'Equipe. It's HERE but I haven't yet found an English version. The Times' version is behind a paywall.

I haven't yet started digesting the 8 point plan yet and it doesn't touch on reforming the UCI per se but it does almost look like they've put the UCI in a secondary position and started to take the lead by setting an agenda for the UCI.

Does anybody have access to an English version? If not, I could do a translation, but not immediately.

 

[thom]

as much as I disagree with andrew mcquaids' twitter statement surly he still as the right to make stupid comments, irrespective of whom he knows or works with..

If you make an honest mistake in public, fine. He should apologise publicly.

The problem is the perception of him deliberately putting an idea into the public domain libelling Lemonde on his father's behalf. I think pointing out the hypocrisy is perfectly justified.
Remember it was LA who undermined for example Emma O'Reilly, making up unpleasant stories about her to discredit her.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

as much as I disagree with andrew mcquaids' twitter statement surly he still as the right to make stupid comments, irrespective of whom he knows or works with..

No one has the right to libel others.

 

[albion]

Obviously if they did what other sports do then everything would be fine.

Like boxing where champions have not had even 1 random test in their lifetime, or other sports where they get to stay anonymous and just get a caution when caught.

You can certainly say cycling has been tackling it by the number caught, even if Armstrong eluded them for a while.

 

[DogTired]

as much as I disagree with andrew mcquaids' twitter statement surly he still as the right to make stupid comments, irrespective of whom he knows or works with..

Nope. He has the ability to make stupid comments, but he doesnt have a right to. A lot of people over-estimate their 'rights' confusing it with 'the ability to do and say pretty much whatever I want with no consequences'. No-one has a right to punch someone in the face for disagreeing with them. No-one can just say or accuse anyone with justification of whatever they want as they feel.

 

[rich p]

Maybe he's a member of this forum and like many here, isn't that concerned about making libelous unsubstantiated claims

Such as? Armstrong is a doper?

 

[rich p]

No, that's a fact but before it was an unsubstantiated claim..

Unsubstantiated apart from the mountain of evidence.

 

[thom]

No... before usada took up the case it was all unsubstantiated claims and still would be, if not for usada.

Well, you had people who were prepared to make courtroom(like) statements and in addition the whole story of 7 consecutive wins just kept on becoming more and more implausible as time went on and more and more of the guys who shared the podiums were implicated too. There was a lot of noise about LA.

I have only heard a specific allegation against LeMond made by A. McQuaid on twitter last week. Other than that, I heard the story (told by LeMond and his fishing trip companion) of Lance threatening to make accusations against LeMond. Given the general stories about cyclists at the time, you might presume a fair few people were involved in some kind of doping but my impression was people thought LeMond was one of the clean ones.

LeMond has been very outspoken on doping against a succession of big names, (LA, Landis, Contador) so there would be good reason for stories to emerge about him during his own career. Does anybody actually know of any such story ?

 

[rich p]

No... before usada took up the case it was all unsubstantiated claims and still would be, if not for usada.

It wasn't unsubstantiated, just un-prosecuted.
The failed EPO tests weren't disputed but were just inadmissable. The late TUE was in the public domain. The evidence was always there but due to reasons that have been well documented lately, nothing was ever done.

 

[johnr]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/oct/27/uci-fight-credibility-lance-armstrong

A decent summary of the current state of play.

 

[DogTired]

Maybe he's a member of this forum and like many here, isn't that concerned about making libelous unsubstantiated claims

Personally, its a wise idea to have some evidence before going out on a limb. Conversations here can get heated but its rare for someone to shoot from the hip comments wise and for the most part provide some of evidential back-up. This is one of the most informed chat rooms I've come across.

Apart from those who still think he-who-is-not-named-in-this-thread-header is innocent.

 

[dellzeqq]

I'm not entirely sure what I think of an agent who is the son of the UCI president hawking on of his riders around when the rider's team boss has said that the rider has to see out his contract. In fact I'm not sure what I think of an agent who is the son of the UCI president. No, I'm not sure at all........

 

[BJH]

I dodnt recall ever seeing any dirt on LeMond - with the exception of the threats made by Armstrong.

He makes the most credible candidate for my money.