AUSTIN, Texas — Court documents filed Wednesday by U.S. anti-doping officials in their case against Lance Armstrong include a recent interview given by the head of the International Cycling Union saying his agency is not involved in the dispute and
AUSTIN, Texas — Court documents filed Wednesday by U.S. anti-doping officials in their case against Lance Armstrong include a recent interview given by the head of the International Cycling Union saying his agency is not involved in the dispute and will wait for the outcome.
The filing is the latest twist in a fight pitting the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency against Armstrong and UCI officials over who has jurisdiction to pursue a drug case against the seven-time Tour de France winner. The documents highlight an apparent contradiction on the part of UCI, cycling’s governing body.
Armstrong, who denies doping, and UCI officials now argue USADA does not have jurisdiction. And Armstrong is suing in U.S. federal court to block the case. A hearing before Judge Sam Sparks is scheduled Friday
USADA filed a transcript of a July 11 interview UCI head Pat McQuaid gave to Belgian media outlet Sporza, saying UCI has nothing to do with the investigation.
“The position of UCI is that we’re not involved in this, and it’s a USADA investigation,” McQuaid said according to the transcript. “They’re doing all the process in the United States. It’s nothing to do with UCI, and we’ll wait and see what the eventual outcome is.”
But just two days later, McQuaid and UCI tried to assert control over the case, telling USADA officials that the Switzerland-based cycling group has jurisdiction and USADA does not.
In a letter to USADA, McQuaid questioned whether evidence has been unfairly withheld from Armstrong and whether witnesses were given incentives to make incriminating statements against him.
