June 23, 2006 – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has rejected 7-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong’s letter to the International Olympic Commitee (IOC) calling for WADA chairman, Dick Pound, to be removed.

Armstrong has asked the IOC to expel or suspend Pound as the head of WADA for his handling of a research study on doping at the 1999 Tour which alleged that Armstrong had a blood doping substance in his system.

A subsequent investigation by Dutch lawyer Emile Vrijman cleared Armstrong and was critical of WADA, but WADA rebuked the Vrijman report’s accusations.

The IOC’s 15-member executive board met in Lausanne, Switzerland to discuss the affair and Armstrong’s letter but instead of dealing with it internally, has recommended that an independent body resolve the issues between Armstrong and Pound.

A number of media sources are claiming that this dispute may need to be resolved by the International Court of Arbitration for Sport. The saga continues…