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WADA calls Vrijman report farcical

By AFP
Published: Jun. 2, 2006

World Anti-Doping Agency chairman Dick Pound rejected the conclusions from an investigation that cleared cyclist Lance Armstrong of 1999 Tour de France doping allegations, saying Friday it "borders on farcical."

Dutch attorney Emile Vrijman was appointed by the International Cycling Union (UCI) last October to investigate the credibility of reports by the French newspaper L'Equipe claiming Armstrong used EPO in 1999, the first of his seven successive Tour wins.

The newspaper said urine tests purportedly from Armstrong tested positive for EPO once tests not available in 1999 were applied to the sample.

Armstrong steadfastly denied any wrongdoing and Vrijman's 132-page report backed him, suggesting a tribunal to consider legal and ethical wrongdoing by WADA, Pound, and French anti-doping laboratory LNDD as well as sanctions.(Read the FULL REPORT)

Pound ripped the report that criticized him in a statement Friday.

"The Vrijman report is so lacking in professionalism and objectivity that it borders on farcical," Pound said. "Were the matter not so serious and the allegations it contains so irresponsible, we would be inclined to give it the complete lack of attention it deserves."

The statement said WADA was astonished the UCI "would expect anyone to have the slightest confidence in the objectivity, methodology, analysis or conclusions of such a report."

"WADAs preliminary conclusion is that the report is defamatory to the Agency, its officers and employees, as well as the accredited laboratory involved."

"WADA has taken legal advice regarding its recourses against the investigator and any organization, including UCI, that may publicly adopt its conclusions."

Armstrong, who has retired after a record seven consecutive Tour de France triumphs, praised Vrijman's report when it was released Wednesday and accused Pound of involvement in a "witch hunt" against him.

"Although I am not surprised by the report's findings, I am pleased that they confirm what I have been saying since this witch-hunt began: Dick Pound, WADA, the French laboratory, the French Ministry of Sport, L'Equipe and the Tour de France organizers have been out to discredit and target me without any basis and falsely accused me of taking performance enhancing drugs in 1999,” Armstrong said. "Today's comprehensive report makes it clear that there is no truth to that accusation. The report confirms my innocence, but also finds that Mr. Pound along with the French lab and the French ministry have ignored the rules and broken the law.

"They have also refused to cooperate with the investigation in an effort to conceal the full scope of their wrongdoing.

"I have now retired, but for the sake of all athletes still competing who deserve a level playing field and a fair system of drug testing, the time has come to take action against these kinds of attacks before they destroy the credibility of WADA and, in turn, the international anti-doping system."

Pound denied WADA was guilty of wrongdoing and said there was no grudge against Armstrong.

"WADA is an independent agency, comprised of equal representatives from the sports movement and the governments, which is concerned with the integrity of sport and the health of the athletes who practice it," Pound said in a statement released Friday. "Our only interest in this matter is to determine the facts in an objective manner, whatever they may be."

WADA response to Vrijman ReportThe Vrijman Report