US ANTI-DOPING chief executive Travis Tygart says he hopes that sports stars will learn a lesson from the Lance Armstrong doping scandal.
The USADA boss believes that the saga could provide a wake-up call to other sports.
“I hope it is a turning point. It clearly transcends sport to a certain extent. It is about equality and the rights of victims and I think the discussion of doping is a positive thing going forward,” Tygart said.
“I think it should be a wake-up call and hopefully this isn’t there in other sports. But at a minimum it should be a wake-up call for any institution, sporting or otherwise, that you have to have best practices in place and be on guard for this type of corruption to evolve and take over the culture of your institution.”
Tygart was heavily involved in bringing the case against Armstrong and hoped that the disgraced cyclist would volunteer information to help the sport combat the issue.
“We are just moving forward and we would love for Lance Armstrong to come in and be completely truthful and full in that information,” Tygart said.
“I don’t think it is a negative that Armstrong was caught. If the cheating was as rampant as it was it needed to be exposed and those who cheated held accountable.
“Going forward I think it gives hope to next generation of athlete and sends a clear message: don’t cheat or you are going to get caught and exposed. You don’t want to be the next Lance Armstrong in that sense.”
