Reserves judgment on Armstrong, but says Texan didn’t help anti-doping fight
Citing an imbalance between science and the legal aspect, David Millar has spoken of his frustration with the Alberto Contador case, and how it has taken so long to reach a decision.
The Spaniard tested positive during last year’s Tour de France, yet in the absence of a final decision, will be able to compete in this year’s race.
“It’s farcical, there is no doubt about that,” Millar told BBC Sport, speaking in relation to the delays. “But at the same time it is opening everybody’s eyes to the discrepancies we have regards the sanctioning and disciplinary process in the anti-doping world. The science is now so advanced, and yet the actual judicial side of it is medieval and basically makes no sense. I think this will open everybody’s eyes up to that, and hopefully it will force change and make some sort of universal code for the actual sanctioning.
“He should have either been vindicated or sanctioned a long time ago. I think it’s bad for Alberto and it’s bad for the sport that it hasn’t been sorted out yet.
“Whether he’s positive or negative, it’s the system’s fault for not dealing with it. There should be a two-week timeframe for when it is actually resolved.”
Because of those delays, he believes that the sport is being put in a very difficult position. “It is not healthy for cycling, it is not healthy for international sport…it just makes it all look pretty stupid.”
In a recent interview with VeloNation, Millar recently spoke about his autobiography, his reasons for doing it and the writing process. He talked about the need for the police to remain involved in monitoring sport, carrying out raids and investigations, and also talked about what he feels should be bans for team managers involved in doping practices.
“How can teams get away with their riders having repeated doping cases, and yet keep turning up at races? For me, I find that absolutely disgusting,” he said. “I think it is so stupid that a team can just keep racing, keep bringing in new riders, sign any rider they want with no responsibility. There’s no ultimate consequences to them taking a big risk on someone they know is doping, but who could also get them a big result. If that guy does dope, what then happens to the guy who signed him? Nothing.”
Millar insists that the situation is very different to years ago, though. “I think cycling is two thirds of the way to being cleared up,” he told the BBC. “If I came into the sport now as the same young man I was in 1997, I would never encounter doping. I would have had a different life. I’m very proud that we have changed it, and very proud I played a part in it.
“Unfortunately still not enough people have done what I have done, but I think I was in a different position. I totally cut the cord on the sport, I was happy to be out. When I did come back in, that was with the recognition that I had a second chance and responsibility. I approached the anti-doping authorities. All I wanted to do was to stop what happened to me happening to anyone else, as I was very angry that it could have happened to me.”
Believes Armstrong doping would be ‘unforgivable’
Speaking to the Telegraph, Millar said that he wasn’t sure what to believe in relation to the Lance Armstrong investigation. He said that he had no proof that he had broken rules, but felt that the Texan could have done more in the fight against banned substances.
“I can’t say definitively if Lance doped or not,” he said. “Yes, there are all the stories and rumours but I certainly never saw him dope with my own eyes. If he did dope, after all he has said and done, it would be unforgivable.
“His performances on the Tour were extraordinary but he is unlike anybody you will ever meet. He is a force of nature. But I have always thought that he could have done more against doping. He was in a position to make a difference and to help his sport but I never saw any evidence of that.”