Both individuals miss this year’s Tour, but appear eligible for other races
Although both RadioShack Nissan individuals were formally accused of serious doping charges by USADA on Friday, the UCI has stated that it has no plans at this point in time to officially sideline either Johan Bruyneel or team doctor Pedro Celaya.
“Bruyneel and the doctor are not suspended at all,” said UCI spokesman Enrico Carpani to VeloNation, in response to a question about their status.
“There has to be at least a procedure or a decision against them: in this case there is nothing.”
On June 12th USADA sent a letter to the two, as well as former US Postal Service team leader Lance Armstrong, doctors Michele Ferrari (Italy), Pedro Celaya (Luxembourg, who currently works with Team RadioShack), Luis Garcia del Moral (Spain) and the Spanish trainer Pepe Marti.
In that letter, it said that the six likely faced a range of doping-related charges. Bruyneel was accused of possession, trafficking and administration of banned substances, aiding, abetting and covering up anti-doping rule violations plus other aggravating circumstances which USADA states should justify ‘a period of ineligibility greater than the standard sanction.’
Celaya also faced a range of serious charges. Elsewhere in that letter USADA said that each of the six faced a potential lifetime ban. It also stated that formal charges would not be brought until such time as its Anti-Doping Review Board (ADRB) looked at the case and decided if there was sufficient evidence to continue.
Last Friday USADA confirmed that the USADA charges would indeed go forward, Armstrong blasted one of the review board panel members Clark Griffith via twitter. He linked to a story about Griffith which notes that the Minneapolis attorney had been charged earlier this year in a misdemeanour case of indecent exposure. The latter claimed he was innocent to AP, but will face a hearing; either way, he is not due to be part of the arbitration panel which will hear the US Postal Service case and ultimately decide the outcome.
USADA has said that the trial should be completed by November. Armstrong denies ever having doped, while Bruyneel has denied involvement in such practices.
He is not present at the Tour de France, stating on June 22nd that he would not travel to the race this year. He insisted that it was his own decision.
RadioShack Nissan has confirmed to VeloNation that Celaya is also not part of the support staff for the race.
However in the UCI’s eyes, both are free to remain part of cycling at this point in time, and appear eligible to work with riders at other races.
Although neither are American citizens, USADA has claimed jurisdiction in the matter and states that under the UCI’s rules, it has the power to impose global sanctions on each of the six. UCI president Pat McQuaid confirmed this on Monday, telling the agency dpa that the Agency has that power.