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Verbruggen Responds to Armstrong Allegations with Who Believes Armstrong?

by John Symon
November 20, 2013 – Former UCI president Hein Verbruggen has responded to Lance Armstrong’s recent allegations that he was involved in attempts to cover-up a failed doping test for cortisone at the 1999 Tour de France.

Verbruggen has called the allegation “illogical” and asked who believes the cyclist after all his years of lies. He also points out that the UCI did not have lead responsibility in treating the back-dated Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) document that Armstrong and his team produced to explain the failed test; that responsibility belonged to the French Ministry.

But Verbruggen is also admitting that he may have spoken to Armstrong after that failed test, reports ESPN, citing AP. He has also apparently been quoted saying that back-dated TUEs were permissible at the time when the 1999 rules clearly stated the contrary. That Verbruggen may have spoken to a rider after a failed test raises many questions about his leadership and whether protocol was followed. Yet the former UCI president has stated that he is willing to take part in any future truth and reconciliation process designed to eradicate doping from the sport.

Verbruggen, 72, was the president of the UCI from 1991 until 2005, a period that covers Armstrong’s seven consecutive TdF wins 1999-2005 (now disallowed) and has become the target of much criticism regarding doping problems within the cycling community.

Read the AP article here.
Read the ESPN article here.





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