Bruyneel’s future with the team appears to be under question
Although Johan Bruyneel has claimed innocence in relation to the doping accusations he is being faced with by the US Anti Doping Agency, the RadioShack Nissan team has said that it is considering the situation and that it will take ‘all appropriate measures’ to protect the team’s integrity.
A short statement released by the management has made clear that it is taking the matter seriously and, reading between the lines and depending on what happens next with the investigation, it appears to be preparing the way for a possible ending of its association with Bruyneel.
The statement is as follows:
“Leopard S.A. (with its cycling team known as « RadioShack Nissan Trek ») has been informed of the content of the document whereby the USADA has opened formal disciplinary proceedings against some individuals, including Mr Johan Briyneel.
“After a first review of this document, Leopard S.A. takes note that none of the investigated facts relate to its cycling team, to its riders or to the present activities of Mr Bruyneel within the Leopard S.A. structure. Indeed, these alleged facts report exclusively to events that took place prior to the start of the collaboration between Leopard S.A. and Mr Bruyneel.
“Leopard S.A. stepped into cycling with the firm commitment of actively promoting a « zero doping » policy. In this context, and in the light of the possible development of the case, Leopard S.A. will take all appropriate measures, in order to guarantee its sporting integrity and the general interest of cycling.”
Bruyneel has been accused of a range of charges by USADA, with these relating to his time spent with the US Postal Service/Discovery Channel team, Astana, and the US team RadioShack. He and the sponsors of the latter squad moved across to Leopard Trek over the winter, with Bruyneel acting as a consultant manager.
The charges facing him include possession, trafficking and administration of banned substances, assisting others to break anti-doping regulations and unnamed aggravating circumstances.
Also named is the current RadioShack Nissan team doctor Pedro Celaya who, presumably, will also be under scrutiny by Leopard Trek.
The team hasn’t indicated when a decision will be made about what happens next. Under the details of USADA’s charge letter, Lance Armstrong, Bruyneel and the others accused of breaking anti-doping regulations have until June 22nd to make written submittals to the USADA Review Board. That board will then decide if there is sufficient evidence for the case to proceed.
In the event that it does, Bruyneel, Armstrong and the other defendants can opt to accept the sanctions, or to fight them in an arbitration hearing.
USADA states that the hearing would most likely take place before November of this year.