PARIS: The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) will send Lance Armstrong’s file to the cycling world governing body this week to get the American rider’s life ban ratified, its chief Travis Tygart told French daily L’Equipe yesterday.
Armstrong was stripped of his record seven Tour de France wins last month and handed a lifetime ban by the USADA after indicating that he would not challenge charges that he had doped throughout his career.
Armstrong, however, has always denied doping.
The USADA sanction, however, needs to be confirmed by the International Cycling Union (UCI).
Asked when his agency will send the material to UCI, Tygart said : “It is imminent. By the end of the month.”
UCI said earlier this month they have no intention of appealing the USADA decision.
“...unless the USADA’s decision and case file give serious reasons to do otherwise, the UCI has no intention to appeal to CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) or not to recognise the USADA’s sanctions on Lance Armstrong,” UCI president Pat McQuaid said.
Gilbert ends years of frustration with world cycling title
valkenburg, Netherlands: Belgian rider Philippe Gilbert won the men’s cycling world road race title for the first time on Sunday.
The 30-year-old, who last year became only the second rider to win all three Ardennes one day classics in the same season, broke away on the final climb to come home clear of Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen while Alejandro Valverde of Spain took the bronze.
Gilbert said that his bad memories from the 2010 edition when he had attacked on the final climb in Geelong, Australia, but been caught with 5km to go had been at the back of his mind.
“I was very disappointed by that defeat,” he said.
“The manner of that defeat, though, served to strengthen me in a way.
“One changes every time one loses, because one has more experience. I was recalling that race during this one and it certainly played a role in my performance.
“I didn’t have the right to make a mistake this time, I wouldn’t have 10 similar chances for the rest of my life.”
Boasson Hagen said that Gilbert owed his victory as much to the confusion among his rivals when he made his decisive move than to his own individual brilliance.
“When Gilbert set off, I couldn’t get onto his wheel, I was a little too far back,” said the 25-year-old.
“I was hoping that other riders would do the work to plug the gap. I thought Valverde would fulfil that role. Under the circumstances I have to be happy with the silver medal.” AGENCIES
