Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Hein Verbruggen insists he has nothing to hide

Former UCI president rejects Lance Armstrong's claims of helping instigate cover-up...

Former UCI president Hein Verbruggen claims he has nothing to hide and says that Lance Armstrong’s claim that he helped cover up a positive drugs test at the 1999 Tour de France is a “ridiculous story.”

Armstrong made the allegation in an interview published by the Daily Mail on Monday.

He said that Verbruggen, who served as UCI president from 1991 to 2005, had helped concoct a plan for the rider’s positive test for a corticosteroid to be explained away by a backdated prescription for a saddle sore cream containing the banned substance.

In an Associated Press report published by USA Today, Verbruggen insisted: "It's a ridiculous story and, in addition to that, it was not a positive case.

“He must have reasons to come up with these allegations. I don't know what…  maybe to do with his court cases."

The 72-year-old Dutchman said he may have spoken to Armstrong at the time.

"I might have told him that the UCI needs a prescription, but I am sure that was handled by our anti-doping department, not me," he explained.

"According to our rules, it [the prescription] could be done afterwards."

In his Daily Mail interview, Armstrong maintained that news of the positive test had sent Verbruggen into a panic, with the previous year’s Tour de France having been overshadowed by the Festina scandal.

"The real problem was, the sport was on life support," said Armstrong. "And Hein just said, 'This is a real problem for me, this is the knockout punch for our sport,  so we've got to come up with something.'"

Verbrugge said that results from tests conducted on Armstrong on four separate days were consistent with his having used an ointment, and that French authorities accepted the prescription.

Armstrong’s allegations will almost certainly be among the issues addressed by the inquiry that current UCI president Brian Cookson is setting up into doping, including whether the governing body was involved in a cover-up.

But Verbruggen, who has left his position as UCI honorary president since Cookson’s election in September, said: "I have never been afraid of any investigation commission. I will participate in everything and I will be never be found [guilty of] anything."

He questioned Armstrong’s motives for wanting to be a witness at any inquiry, however, saying: “He wants a 'Truth and Reconciliation Commission.' He wants a commission to find out that he was not the only one [doping], and that he was forced to do it."

As allegations against Amstrong began to mount up even ahead of the United States Anti-Doping Agency launching the investigation that would result in his being banned from sport for life and stripped of his seven Tour de France titles, Verbruggen continued to defend him.

In 2011, reacting to claims by Tyler Hamilton that the UCI had helped Armstrong cover up a suspect test for EPO at the Tour de Suisse, Verbruggen said: “There is nothing. Lance Armstrong has never used doping. Never, never, never. I say this not because I am a friend of his, because that is not true. I say it because I'm sure."

But in a book given to Verbruggen when he stepped down as president of the UCI in 2005, Armstrong described him as “a great friend,” adding, “thanks for everything."

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

Add new comment

6 comments

Avatar
crazy-legs | 10 years ago
0 likes

I'm currently reading Wheelmen; all about the rise and fall of American cycling in general and LA in particular. Fascinating read but I'm at the point now where HV is investing money in the hedge funds run by Thom Wiesel who owned the USPS team (and half of the US Cycling Federation). So in this instance, I might just believe more of what LA is saying.

The book is incredible, a definite must-read. Put it on your Christmas list!

Avatar
philtregear | 10 years ago
0 likes

I will participate in everything and I will be never be found [guilty of] anything."
an interesting choice of words, quite different from stating that he never did anything that was unlawful or unethical.

Avatar
Lungsofa74yearold | 10 years ago
0 likes

Although LA has massive previous on the fibbing front, I'm rather inclined to believe him over the reptilian HV. Either way, this should be a lot of fun watching these scumbags tear each other apart  19

Avatar
Lungsofa74yearold | 10 years ago
0 likes

Although LA has massive previous on the fibbing front, I'm rather inclined to believe him over the reptilian HV. Either way, this should be a lot of fun watching these scumbags tear each other apart  19

Avatar
dp24 | 10 years ago
0 likes

Be nice to get them both under oath, see who is willing to perjure themselves (again, in LA's case)

Avatar
alotronic | 10 years ago
0 likes

A good time to watch this again:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkrdqJHQHxs

The man from V.I.A.L.

Latest Comments