UCI scraps independent commission

Cycling’s governing body has scrapped the independent commission it created to investigate allegations surrounding the Lance Armstrong doping scandal and will instead embark on an unprecedented “truth and reconciliation” process.
The decision was made after talks with the World Anti-Doping Agency, UCI president Pat McQuaid announced Monday.
“Over the weekend I spoke to John Fahey, President of WADA. He confirmed WADA’s willingness to help the UCI establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), as well as saying that WADA had no confidence in the existing Independent Commission process,” McQuaid said in a statement released on the UCI website.
The UCI set up the commission last year to look into allegations made against it in the wake of the United States Anti Doping Agency’s reasoned decision on the Lance Armstrong and Unites States Postal Service affair.
The decision included a life ban for Armstrong and reduced six-month bans for several of his teammates who testified about their past involvement in doping. Among them was Canadian Michael Barry, who retired from cycling at the end of the 2012 season.
The UCI upheld all of USADA’s decisions, but the 1,000-page report also raised questions about whether the UCI had done all it could to combat doping or had even helped cover up positive tests.
In response, in November the UCI set up the independent commission to investigate the claims, but the body was immediately criticized for its limited mandate and perceived lack of independence.
Most recently, WADA and USADA refused to participate in the commission’s investigation.
“After careful review of the terms of reference and the Commission’s proposed work program, WADA reached the conclusion that the UCI was not allowing the Commission to conduct a proper and independent investigation,” Fahey said in a scathing Jan. 17 release. “Therefore, WADA has decided not to take part and invest its limited resources into such a questionable and useless exercise … WADA was surprised to see the UCI reaction and attacks on WADA. It has again become apparent that rather than deal with the obvious problems that exist within the sport of cycling, the UCI once again would like to avoid its responsibilities and instead seek to blame WADA and others.”
On Monday, McQuaid bowed to the inevitable and announced the UCI would cooperate with WADA in the truth and reconciliation process.
“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,” McQuaid said.
However, much remains to be decided before the process is launched later this year, including how it will work and who will pay for it.
“There is still a huge amount to discuss before we can finalize 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,” McQuaid said. “I would stress that, while I am committed to a TRC, it needs to be a process which is in the best interests of our sport and our federation – and which also does not bankrupt it.”
McQuaid did end his statement on a positive note.
“I hope the lessons learned from the truth and reconciliation process will help in particular to educate young riders and to help eradicate doping in its entirety from cycling.”