Johan Bruyneel looks towards a clean cycling.
view thumbnail gallery
Armstrong’s former team manager facing lifetime ban
Former team manager of Lance Armstrong, Johan Bruyneel will fight U.S. Anti-Doping Agency charges which allege he engaged in anti-doping rule violations.
“USADA can confirm that in accordance with the rules that are compliant with federal law and were approved by athletes, the U.S. Olympic Committee, and all Olympic sports organizations, Mr. Bruyneel has requested to move forward in the process and have his case heard at an arbitration hearing, which can be open to the public,” the Agency announced via a statement.
“As in all cases, during the arbitration hearing, all the evidence will be presented, witness testimony will be subject to cross examination and will be given under oath, and an independent panel of arbitrators will ultimately determine the outcome of the case.”
On June 12, Bruyneel was informed that he was being charged with:
- Possession of prohibited substances and/or methods including EPO, blood transfusions and related equipment (such as needles, blood bags, storage containers and other transfusion equipment and blood parameters measuring devices), testosterone, hGH, corticosteroids, and masking agents.
- Trafficking of EPO, blood transfusions, testosterone, hGH, corticosteroids, and masking agents.
- Administration or attempted administration of EPO, blood transfusions, testosterone, hGH, corticosteroids, and masking agents.
- Assisting, encouraging, aiding, abetting, covering up, and other complicity involving one or more anti-doping rule violations and/or attempted anti-doping rule violations.
- Aggravating circumstances justifying the period of ineligibility greater than the standard sanction.
Bruyneel faces a lifetime ban if found guilty.
The Belgian was Armstrong’s team director in his career following his remission from cancer, beginning with United States Postal Service in 1999. Bruyneel, currently team director for RadioShack-Nissan, chose not to travel to the Tour de France in light of the charges but has stated his innocence.
“I have never participated in any doping activity and I am innocent of all charges,” read a statement on Bruyneel’s personal website on June 15. “I
To read the whole story, visit here: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cyclingnews/news/~3/8-B7bHpXvEY/story01.htm
Related posts:
Champion masters racer suspended for doping
RadioShack-Nissan aims to defend yellow with stage win
Horner: “Nowhere to ease back in this year’s Worlds course”
Armstrong: It's been a difficult couple of weeks
UCI: Armstrong profile not flagged as abnormal between 2008 and 2010
Press release: UCI publishes full facts of Armstrong’s 1999 corticosteroid test results
Great news. There will be a public hearing. The evidence will be laid out for all to see.
Obviously a split now is emerging between Bruyneel and Armstrong. Unless Armstrong wins in the Texas courts, the evidence will become public.
We need this out in the open.