Bruyneel questioned about allegations
In the wake of recent confirmation that Interpol is now involved in the Floyd Landis doping inquiry, the director general of the World Anti Doping Agency, David Howman, has once again spoken about the importance of the investigation and said that it could take some time to resolve.
“This is a significant inquiry and the indications I have is that that significance is not going away,” he told Press Association Sport. “Therefore it’s of great importance. It’s of great importance to the fight against doping in sport and to the countries who are engaged.
“We might be talking about this still in 2016,” he added, suggesting that the enquiry might have a lasting impact on sport.
Howman said that the best way forward would be for those looking into the claims to proceed carefully and not to rush. “This is one where I would hope that it proceeds in a way that the evidence is gathered fully and properly and therefore less haste. I know that it’s going to take many months, it’s not going to take days,” he explained.
During the Tour of California in May, Landis made a wide number of claims against former team-mates and others, admitting that he doped during the 2006 Tour de France and throughout his career. His allegations related mostly to those who had been with him on the US Postal Service team, including general manager Johan Bruyneel, seven time Tour winner Lance Armstrong and others, but also named individuals connected to the Phonak squad.
Former Directeur sportif John Lelangue was named by Landis and faced questioning by the French cycling Federation (FFC) in mid-June. It has now emerged that Bruyneel was interrogated by the Belgian federation (KBWB), with Zeit Online saying that the 45 year old denied all charges laid against him. The Chief investigator Jaak Fransen intends to continue digging, and is not expected to comment further until the investigation is completed.”
Howman confirmed to Press Association Sport that the investigation has broadened. “I am aware of the progress and I am aware that there are now a number of enforcement agencies engaged, but I can’t stipulate who as I’m not entitled to do so.”
He said that WADA itself is not primarily involved in the inquiry, but rather enables and facilitates others to work together.
“What we can do with the links that we have is to ensure that those who do have the jurisdiction and the power, starting of course with those who have initiated this in the United States, can link with others who have similar powers in other countries,” he said.
He added that he believed that cycling as a sport was doing its utmost to clean things up. However he said that the chances of that succeeding depended on the riders and those who advise them. “If they still bend to the culture of cheating, they’ll do that,” he warned.