Travis Tygart

[oldroadman]

Claims he has evidence of UCI complicity in covering up LA doping.
Odd that he decides to say this in front of a French committee. A conspiracy theorist might just think that Tygart is grandstanding to make himself look a hero who cleans up cycling, and brings down the UCI all at the same time, and probably has a close connection to people in the CCN campaign?
What he does not say is what USADA have done about the doping that goes on in the US in other sports, and how USADA managed not to catch track and field athletes some of whom have died very young, or what they are doing with US Football, baseball, basketball, soccer, triathlon, to keep them clean? Travis might do well to look in his own back yard, but that would only bring negative publicity?

No winners in this pointess spat between him, CCN and UCI. You could just wish they would all go away and let properly honest people take the helm, with all testing and sanctions under WADA, no interference from other bodies. But then could we trust WADA to be immune from financial and political influence?

 

[thom]

USADA have a hard job catching drug cheats. There was clearly more culpability within cycling than has been accepted.
The UCI have not allowed an independent enquiry to look into the allegations against them.

Tygart and USADA is not the problem. Cycling should be saying "it's a fair cop" on this one and following through on investigating the allegations of cover ups and complicity. I don't see the merit in referencing problems in other sports because my interest is in supporting cycling - this is the one where they have an investigation now and it would be remiss not to follow through fully on whatever they uncover, in particular if that amounts to wrongdoing by a sport's governing body.

USADA is a small agency with relatively little funding doing, evidently doing a good job in revealing the USPS doping problem in cycling and the chronic failures and impotence of the UCI to do so. They have an exemplary record of success in succeeding with their cases against doping. If asked to give testimony to a French committee, I would presume the honesty of the statements.

A USADA connection to CCN ? Is there evidence to back that allegation ?

I'm glad Tygart is back making some news because I think the UCI are trying to slip away from their responsibility.

 

[rich p]

Me too Thom. That snivelling pair at the UCI are slipping through the net.
Showboating and self-interest accusations are often made at whistleblowers - Kimmage, Walsh, Hamilton, Jakksche, Landis......

 

[smutchin]

A USADA connection to CCN ? Is there evidence to back that allegation ?

CCN seems to be yet another pointless exercise in "making the right noises" (cf. the post-Festina anti-doping charter), with the sole aim of preventing any meaningful investigation by the likes of USADA. Michael Ashenden has publicly distanced himself from CCN, and I suspect that Tygart shares his feelings.

 

[smutchin]

Claims he has evidence of UCI complicity in covering up LA doping.

Not quite. He said Lance hinted that there is evidence of UCI complicity. In order for Tygart to act on this evidence, he requires Lance's co-operation. It remains to be seen whether or not that will be forthcoming.

Until then, telling people that he believes there is evidence is all he can do.

Personally, I think his comments have the ring of truth. In fact, I find it less plausible that the UCI were not complicit in covering up positive drug tests. I strongly suspect there's been a massive web of mutual back-scratching to protect the vested interests of various individuals and organisations, and the investigation so far has barely scratched the surface.

Follow the money, as the man said.

 

[yello]

I'm glad Tygart is back making some news because I think the UCI are trying to slip away from their responsibility.

Agreed. The pressure needs to be maintained otherwise I fear it'll be business as usual. And I don't think anyone else is showing the will to make noise. Of course, 'business as usual' may possibly be just fine (possibly) but my gut feel is not. The fact McQuaid is refusing to do the honourable thing and resign (as the head of an organisation during an acknowledged corrupt period) makes me suspect he does not have cycling's interests at heart.

 

[yello]

the problem with all this, is those in control of the UCI, Mcquid included, believe (rightly so) that cycling has never been cleaner whilst he has been president of the UCI, (2006 - present)

I know what you're saying. Indeed that was kind of my point. They "believe" that yet doping went underground and Armstrong et al happened on his watch. UCI, to some degree, went along with it. Tried to manage it quietly behind the scenes rather than publicly tarnish cycling's 'clean' image.

I don't doubt McQuaid believes he was doing the right thing. That only makes it worse imho. Even if he only considers it a gesture, he ought fall on his sword to remove the doubts. If he was truly motivated by a love of cycling, it'd be what he knows he ought do.

 

[Hont]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-hit-back-at-accusations-of-complicity-in-armstrongs-doping

The UCI are behaving like the worst kind of weasely politician. Wriggle, deny, counter-attack. That's not what I want in an organisation running a sport I love. I want them to be transparent, honest and statesmenlike.

Some f***ing chance.

 

[Noodley]

oldroadman, I believe you when you say that you are 100% anti-doping but you sure as hell hang onto some pro-doping attitudes when it comes to pointing fingers at those trying to clean things up and misrepresentation to spin stories. I think from some of your posts that you may have ridden at a level which brought you into contact with the pro peloton and the "powers that be", so maybe you have held onto this from that time? As far as I am concerned Tygart can stand atop UCI headquarters with his knob dangling through McQuaid's window, pissing all over him.

 

[raindog]

As far as I am concerned Tygart can stand atop UCI headquarters with his knob dangling through McQuaid's window, ****ing all over him.

N, that conjured up a mental image I could really have done without.

 

[Noodley]

Ah, the word that was asterixed out was pi55ed not the other one

 

[raindog]

phew, thank dog for that

 

[resal]

Oldroadman I will go along with Noodley. You sure send a very mixed message. Tygart is the only guy who managed to make it stick. We don't need to go back many months and the UCI was spending its member's money suing Kimmage. ? Has the UCI board apologised ? No.

What was that rubbish concoction of an independent commission. Neutered before it took a step via the terms of reference. The UCI board continue to do the sport no favors. At the current time they only come across as a self serving bunch of fools. Look at the inaction of our own rep Cookson. He has been on the board for many years. He was around when Walsh's first book came out and the link between the UCI and Lance came out. If he had acted straight away it would have been dead easy. Hein let's see the certified accounts for the year. Where is this receipt and where is the equipment ? this board is not approving another penny spent on anything until we get to the bottom of these accusations. What is the provenance of both and where did the funds come from. Lance why did you make such a donation ? Instead Cookson sat on his hands, taking the flight tickets and fancy meals and doing nothing worthwhile. It is the whole darned lot of them. So if CCN have got a few rough edges, I am willing to go with them as well.

Sadly I think the UCI will retain governance of the sport and the guys have already beaten the bio passport. The clinic makes most depressing reading.

Tygart can grandstand all he likes in my book. He has the cred. That UCI board need to resign on mass.

 

[oldroadman]

I've probably been around long enough to recognise that change is a steady process, and havig a Brit near the top of the UCI is no bad thing. Just because Brian Cookson does not shout about, it does not necessarily mean he is doing nothing. I don't know what he is doing but what I do know is that making headlines is one thing, and what actually happens is another. What you have to think is that it's possible nobody gets nominated. Then what? In any case what anyone thinks or says on this or other fora will make zero difference. I was told once that change comes from within, and by patient work. So if anyone out there really wants to make a difference, then the patient way, get on to the British Cycling board and start applying pressure, this requires work, and not just offereing opinions.
The UCI is in a mess, but I don't think that there are any quick fixes, I recall a wise proverb "To every problem there is a simple, obvious solution, which when looked at in detail is usually wrong".
Like going out today and trusting the forecast which said "light showers"!!!

 

[rich p]

How long has Cookson been on the committee? I can't recall him ever raising the issue of the receipt for Lance's equipment or raising questions about HV's continuing meddling and intertwined business interests