Cycling Ireland has responded to the findings of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) report into Lance Armstrong, saying there was nothing in it that would warrant Pat McQuaid’s resignation.
The statement was released yesterday before the UCI announced it had decided to establish an independent commission to “look into the various allegations made about (the) UCI relating to the Armstrong affair”.
Cycling Ireland in its statement condemned the practices exposed in the USADA report and said further improvements can and should be made to the UCI’s current anti doping measures.
It suggested the establishment of a review process along the lines of that announced by the UCI yesterday.
On the issue of Pat McQuaid, a former president of Cycling Ireland, the statement said:
“Having read USADA’s report we see nothing in it that would lead us to call for Pat McQuaid's resignation at this point and recommend that he instigates a thorough review as noted above.”
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That statement will be seen as significant in light of efforts by Dr Conor McGrane to have a vote of no confidence in McQuaid put to Cycling Ireland’s upcoming AGM.
McGrane has worked as a doctor with the federation since 2005, though his efforts to have the motion put to the AGM are not being taken in his capacity as the official doctor to the federation.
The proposal from his club Swords CC was submitted too late to be accepted as a motion. However, both he and the club are still seeking a mechanism to have the motion put to association members.
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Full text of Cycling Ireland statement
Cycling Ireland is profoundly saddened at the extent of cheating and deceit detailed in the recent USADA case, we unreservedly condemn those involved in performing, aiding and abetting such practices.
Enormous credit is due to USADA for their diligence and dogged determination which has allowed the truth to surface.
It is of enormous importance to us that our riders enter an environment free from the culture and practices outlined in USADA's report.
Whilst we recognise that significant developments have occurred over recent years such as the introduction of the ADAMS and biological passport systems further improvements can, and must, be made to the current anti-doping measures.
We take this opportunity to call on the UCI to establish an independent working group to comprehensively and critically review all anti-doping and governance measures currently in place so as to ensure, as far as possible, that such scandals are not repeated.
Having read USADA’s report we see nothing in it that would lead us to call for Pat McQuaid's resignation at this point and recommend that he instigates a thorough review as noted above.
Regarding the upcoming court case involving P. McQuaid, H. Verbruggen, UCI and P. Kimmage, we believe it would be inappropriate to comment in advance of the case.
Cycling Ireland.
26th October 2012
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