American rider seeking to sidestep ban by riding unsanctioned events

Lance ArmstrongWith the Tyler Hamilton book ‘The Secret Race’ giving elaborate details of what the former pro said was widespread doping in the peloton and Jonathan Vaughters speaking about both his own previous usage plus that of several others, the topic of drug usage on the US Postal Service team shows no sign of quieting down. The next stage in the flow of information is likely to be the release of the evidence gathered by the US Anti-Doping Agency against Lance Armstrong; this will go to the UCI and WADA as part of the requested reasoned decision, and will be made public then or soon afterwards.

It was anticipated by some that the decision would be communicated this week but, according to the UCI, the information is yet to arrive.

“I can confirm we didn’t receive anything from USADA so far,” UCI spokesman Enrico Carpani told VeloNation today, explaining the governing body has requested both the reasoned decision and the complete file.

“We assume that both full reasoned decision and case file will justify USADA’s position on all issues, but we need to be able to go through those documents before giving our comments and stance.”

USADA previously told VeloNation that the sheer volume of evidence gathered plus the need to exclude information sensitive to the pending arbitration processes of Johan Bruyneel, Pedro Celaya and Pepe Marti meant that it would take time before the reasoned decision would be communicated.

Once it does arrive, the UCI will study the case that was built and either accept the disqualification of all the American’s results from 1998 plus his lifetime ban, or appeal it before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

According to Carpani, the latter is unlikely to happen. “Unless USADA’s decision and file gives serious reasons to do otherwise, UCI has no intention to appeal to CAS or not to recognise USADA’s sanctions on Lance Armstrong,” he said.

WADA is also entitled to appeal if it so wishes, but has been supportive of USADA in the process until now and is not expected to raise the issue with CAS. As a result, it appears more and more likely that Armstrong’s sanction will stick.

In the meantime, the American is sidestepping his ban by continuing to compete. He rode the Power of Four mountainbike race in August, something which was possible as the race is unsanctioned by USA Cycling, and yesterday confirmed he’d ride the Alpine Odyssey 100k on Sunday.

“The second we got the okay that he was coming, we were super excited about it,” race organizer Dave Ochs told CrestedButtenews.com, apparently unconcerned about the ban. “It’ll raise the calibre of riders for sure.”