Former Cycling Chief Threatens Suit Against Federation

(ATR) The former head of UCI says a recent report on cycling’s doping past "is incomplete and biased and it doesn’t respect basic ethical principles."

Hein Verbruggen, UCI president from 1991 to 2005, took to his website on Wednesday to post a lengthy rebuttal to the Cycling Independent Reform Commission report that was released in March. He also implied that a lawsuit is on the way.

"Based on this expert evaluation, the UCI has been informed that legal action is likely to follow," Verbruggen said.

The case is summed up through 11 points in an executive summary, many of which assert that the report "aims at destroying not only my person and reputation … but also 15 years of hard work by many people devoted to the cause of cycling and anti-doping."

Other points says the report lacked objectivity and neutrality and left out certain facts for the benefit of UCI. Verbruggen also denies that any preferential treatment was given to Lance Armstrong, including the cover-up of positive tests.

The attack on UCI is an about face from Verbruggen’s comments in March upon the report’s release when he said he was "satisfied" with the findings.

"I am very satisfied that the report confirms what I have always said," Verbruggen told Around the Rings in March. "There was no corruption, complicity or cover-ups in that [Armstrong] case or in any other case."

The CIRC report calls Verbruggen an "autocratic" leader and says the federation lacked good governance on issues of anti-doping during his time with UCI, which he said was "not very fair."

"There was no WADA [at the time], no guiding party. The commission admits several times that we were not that bad … and better than other federations at certain moments," he said.

UCI president Brian Cookson says the federation stands by the 227-page report as written.

"If Mr. Verbruggen wishes to sue the UCI, that of course is a matter for him. However, I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that the CIRC report was a wholly independent investigation led by an extremely reputable and experienced team of experts.

"Their report and recommendations have been very helpful in rebuilding trust in cycling and the UCI."

Written by Nick Devlin

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