LANCE ARSMTRONG HAS broken his post Oprah interview silence today. And it seems he and UCI chief Pat McQuaid are no longer ‘on speaking terms’
The American says that a truth and reconciliation programme is the “only way” to deal with cycling’s doping crisis and the sport’s governing body should have no role in the process.
Armstrong spoke to Cyclingnews in his first interview since admitting to Oprah Winfrey that he doped to win the Tour de France seven times.
Armstrong says the best way forward for cycling is a truth and reconciliation process offering amnesty to riders and officials who come forward about the extent of performance-enhancing drug use in the sport. He says “it’s not the best way, it’s the only way” and the issue is more than about him.
He adds in the email interview that “publicly lynching one man and his team will not solve this problem.”
Asked why WADA and not USADA should run the process, Armstrong said: “No brainer. This is a global sport not an American one. One thing I’d add — the UCI has no place at the table. When I was on speaking terms with ol’ Pat McQuaid (the UCI president) many, many months ago I said, ‘Pat, you better think bold here. A full-blown, global, TRC is our sport’s best solution.’ He wanted to hear nothing of it.
“I’d say that if you are alive today and you podiumed in a WC (world championships) or Grand Tour then you should be called. Sounds ambitious but the authorities have proven that nothing with regards to cycling is time barred.”
An amnesty is necessary, Armstrong says, because “otherwise no-one will show up. No-one.”
The Texan did not hide his disdain for McQuaid when asked his thoughts on when the Irishman announced last October that Armstrong had no place in cycling. He said: “Pat is just in constant CYA (Cover Your Ass) mode. Pathetic.”
Read the full interview at Cyclingnewc.com
-additional reporting AP
