UCI switches focus to truth and reconciliation commission

The International Cycling Union switched its focus to a truth and reconciliation commission after disbanding its own independent commission set up to investigate any alleged involvement cycling’s world governing body may have had in the Lance Armstrong doping scandal.

UCI switches focus to truth and reconciliation commission

The International Cycling Union switched its focus to a truth and reconciliation commission after disbanding its own independent commission set up to investigate any alleged involvement cycling’s world governing body may have had in the Lance Armstrong doping scandal.

The commission was established to look into the allegations made against the UCI by the United States Anti-Doping Agency’s (USADA) investigation into Armstrong, which shone a light on a decade of drug use in the sport.

However, both the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and USADA said they would take no part in the commission. That, according to the UCI, would have led to any report being dismissed as “not being complete or credible”.

The anti-doping authorities withdrew from the process earlier this month over the lack of an amnesty, believing it is imperative witnesses give evidence “without fear of retribution or retaliation from the UCI”.

UCI president Pat McQuaid said last night: “As I said last Friday, we have listened carefully to the views of WADA, USADA and cycling stakeholders and have decided that a truth and reconciliation process is the best way to examine the culture of doping in cycling in the past and to clear the air so that cycling can move forward.

“Given this development, the UCI management committee today decided that the federation could no longer fund a procedure whose outcome is likely to be rejected by such an important stakeholder. We have therefore decided to disband the independent commission with immediate effect.”

On Friday the UCI announced its intention to hold a distinct truth and reconciliation commission (TRC) with WADA to look at doping in professional cycling and yesterday’s decision means “it is expected that the TRC process will launch later this year”.

McQuaid added: “We will now focus our efforts on establishing a truth and reconciliation commission, with which we expect WADA to be fully engaged, to look at doping in professional cycling, as well as the allegations contained in the USADA reasoned decision [on Armstrong].

“The work that has so far been undertaken by the independent commission will be shared with the TRC.

“This is too important for rushed discussions, or hasty decisions.

“It is completely unrealistic to expect that we and WADA can sort through all the details of setting up a truth and reconciliation commission in just a couple of days, based on an arbitrary deadline set by the independent commission of Thursday.

“There is still a huge amount to discuss before we can finalise a detailed legal framework, including how such a TRC, which is completely unprecedented in sport, should be funded now that WADA contrary to earlier indications refuses to contribute financially.”

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