IOC chief applauds anti-doping movement
Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has announced his commitment to cycling as an Olympic sport, citing the ongoing efforts to fight the culture of doping that pervades the sport as deserving of the IOC’s support.
“They deserve to be supported,” said Rogge. “They have to continue to work hard. Yes, there has been a cultural problem in cycling about doping, which we hope is now over. As long as they fight hard against it, they deserve their place.”
The Belgian has denounced the suggestions by other IOC members that the committee should consider dropping cycling due to the regularity of the almost-monthly drug scandals that constantly underscore the sport.
“There is no discussion on the place of the UCI in the Olympic Games," said Rogge. “As long as a sport is working hard, it deserves a place. Otherwise, you throw out the baby with the bath water. [Doing so] would not bring you further.”
The IOC president explained that he feels the days of 2006 Tour de France winner Floyd Landis are in the past, thanks to the new biological passport systems and regular in-competition and out-of-competition tests. Despite that, doping still remains in the foreground,
with the Operation Puerto case ongoing in Spain, Operation Cobra-Red ongoing in Italy and the federal investigation into the US Postal Service team, including Lance Armstrong and Johan Bryneel, gaining momentum in the States.
"We should welcome anything that can bring to the fore doping issues,” said Rogge. “[But] you have to respect the presumption of innocence. Lance Armstrong has not had a positive test in his career. There are allegations from all sides. These are allegations
that have yet to be proven. You have to wait and see what comes out of it.”
The USPS investigation is the result of allegations made by Landis, whose victory in the Tour de France was overturned when he tested positive for banned substances and was suspended from professional cycling for two years. He implicated Armstrong’s former
team in systematic doping practices, and suggested that there is nothing unique about the alleged practices in the American team, saying instead that it is an invasive component of cycling culture.
Landis is currently speaking at the New Pathways for Pro Cycling conference in Geelong, Australia in the days before the World Championships are held in the same city.
“When you have managed to lie for so many years and spent lots of money in the system, then he has lost my confidence, and probably that of many others too,” said Thor Hushovd, critical of Landis’ appearance in the discussion. “Then it is the wrong person
to get to work on anti-doping issues.”
Hushovd won the sprinter’s jersey in the Tour de France and will be competing in the Championships for the Norwegian national team. He has supported Rogge’s view that the sport has come a long way since Landis’ time and is well on its way to being rid of
the controversies.
“There is probably always a cheater out there who take shortcuts, whether it is in cycling, another sport or in business. But the important thing is that you take the issue seriously and that most understand that you have a lot to lose. I feel that this
is where the sport is today.”
The Norwegian has not gone so far as cyclist Simon Gerrans, who suggested that Landis should be turned away at the Australian border. He said that while the controversial cyclist has every right to be in Geelong, “he has no place in an anti-doping conference.”
The conference is held at Deakin University, which stressed that they would not respond to pressure to cancel Landis’ appearance. The World Championships, for which Hushovd is among the favourites, begins Wednesday, the day after the conference.
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