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WADA: Now it’s our turn…

By Jessica | Permalink | No Comments | June 19th, 2006 | Trackback

In the ongoing battle to have the last word, WADA has released a detailed response to the independent investigation (called the Vrijman report after the Dutch investigator) into the allegations that Lance Armstrong was doping in the 1999 Tour de France. In their response, issued yesterday, they stand by their research findings, accuse Vrijman of confusing research and sanctioning protocols, and call the report “fallacious in many aspects and misleading.” Nothing like a kind volley to get the day going, eh?

The Vrijman report, among other things, criticized WADA for not cooperating with the investigation. WADA insists it “responded in full to the list of questions” it was presented in mid-March. WADA also says that even though Armstrong has vigorously denied having the accusations, he hasn’t filed a lawsuit against French newspaper L’Equipe, which originally printed the story in 2005. “In France, where the article was published, Mr. Armstrong did not issue proceedings for defamation against L’Equipe,” said the WADA statement. “We are not aware of any proceedings elsewhere either. There are time limits provided for the initiation of such proceedings, and in this case they have now expired. In other situations involving newspaper articles and books, in varying jurisdictions around the world, Mr. Armstrong has sued and some of these proceedings are still awaiting hearings in courts. One involving The Sunday Times in England has a hearing shortly.” Apparently now when one doesn’t sue, one is automatically assumed to be guilty. Huh.

WADA had lots more to say about the report, including a denial that it had any contact with L’Equipe or that it leaked the story to the French newspaper. You can read the whole WADA statement here, and the whole Vrijman report here.

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