News Column

Cycling Union UCI Waits for Detailed Decision on Armstrong

Aug. 24, 2012

Cycling's governing body UCI said Friday it would not comment on the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's (USADA) decision to strip Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles until it received a "reasoned decision" from the agency.

Armstrong, who won seven successive Tours between 1999 and 2005, has declared an end to his fight against doping charges filed by USADA.

USADA said Armstrong's decision on Thursday meant he would be stripped of his record seven titles and be barred from life from the sport. Armstrong said the agency did not have the authority to strip him of the titles.

The Swiss-based UCI said it noted Armstrong's decision not to proceed to arbitration in the case brought against him by USADA.

"The UCI recognises that USADA is reported as saying that it will strip Mr Armstrong of all results from 1998 onwards in addition to imposing a lifetime ban from participating in any sport which recognises the World Anti-Doping Code," a statement said.

"Article 8.3 of the WADC states that where no hearing occurs the anti-doping organisation with results management responsibility shall submit to the parties concerned ... a reasoned decision explaining the action taken."

UCI said the concerned parties in the case were Armstrong, the World Anti-Doping Agency WADA and the UCI.

"As USADA has claimed jurisdiction in the case the UCI expects that it will issue a reasoned decision in accordance with Article 8.3 of the Code," the statement added.

"Until such time as USADA delivers this decision the UCI has no further comment to make."



Source: Copyright 2012 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH


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