WADA rejects Alain Garnier charges of guarding Lance Armstrong
WADA’s Medical Director Alain Garnier flamed the already heated conversation, when he told the French radio sender RFI that WADA itself protected Armstrong after 2005.
He cited that organisation favoured the American by holding the meetings behind the closed doors.
"They made all of the directors leave the meetings and they continued as they say 'in camera', behind closed doors”.
He noted that not everyone was invited in those private meetings and only "the members of the executive committee, WADA's director general and WADA's president".
The sports of cycling had always been surrounded by culprits using unfair means to enhance their performance but the USADA’s investigation into Lance Armstrong is undoubtedly the sport’s biggest controversies throughout its history.
The firm released the 1000 page report revealing that the American used systematic doping to achieve the desired results throughout his career with his former American side, Team USPS.
11 out of 26 cyclists that admit doping were Armstrong’s previous team mates and have now been penalised for their wrongdoings.
As for Lance, he received the Lion’s share of the punishment, losing all his previous seven overall Tour de France titles, (1999 to 2009) including a life-time ban implemented by USADA.
Throughout the USADA investigation WADA was keen not to give any public statements, normally relying on USADA to give out the information.
However, the organisation denied the allegations posed by Garnier stating that they were, "disappointed to read the comments made by its former Medical Director Dr. Alain Garnier insofar as they relate to his suggestion that WADA was inactive in respect
of Lance Armstrong".
The firm also stated that, it was WADA who suggested UCI to launch an investigation against the American after his positive tests in 2005.
"Rather than inquire into the truth of the doping suggestion UCI took other steps and engaged an individual to write a report exonerating Armstrong”.
“The report was not independent and was seriously flawed, and was intensely critical of WADA and its President".
It also highlighted the fact that it was actually WADA who forced the Armstrong issue and had to face a legal lawsuit from the UCI.
Whether or not WADA favoured Lance Armstrong will be determined as the time progresses but one thing is for certain, whoever was or is supporting the American is certainly backing the wrong horse and will share the same fate as Armstrong himself.
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