
The doping scandal that Lance Armstrong was dragged into is still very much threatening the world of cycling. After a private law firm proved the innocence of the American champion, the 7-times winner of Tour de France is not planning to stop. This morning, he stated that he wants to see the head of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Dick Pound, fired for violating the International Olympic Committee (IOC) rules concerning anti-doping measures.
Armstrong is accusing Pound of the fact that, even if he didn't have sufficient basis for doping allegations, he released the information
of Lance using banned substances during the 1999 Tour de France - the first he won in his long series of victories. Made public by L'Equipe newspaper, the accusations made Lance Armstrong lose a lot in terms of image between cycling fans in Europe.
So Lance decided to clear his name on his own. And, after hiring Emile Vrijman - a Dutch lawyer - he proved everyone that he did not use banned substances during the 1999 Tour de France. The next step was making an open statement towards Jacques Rogge, the head of CIO, in which the American asks for Pound to be fired from his CIO and WADA functions.
"If the rules of the Olympic movement are to have any meaning at all, they must be enforced, not just against athletes, but against sports officials and anti-doping officials when they violate the rules. The facts revealed in the independent investigator's report show a pattern of intentional misconduct by WADA officials designed to attack anyone who challenges them, followed by a cover-up to conceal their wrongdoing. This conduct by Pound is just the latest in a long history of ethical transgressions and violations of athletes' rights. It is now time for the IOC to enforce the rules, to bring closure, and to take action against all of those who were responsible for this unfortunate incident", says Armstrong, according to Eurosport TV channel.
He added: "Athletes and fans of sport should not support a system that does not apply the rules in the same manner to high-ranking officials as those rules are applied to athletes and everyone else involved in the Olympic movement". The American is now hoping that the issue will be taken under consideration at IOC's next meeting, in Lausanne, between the 21st and the 23rd of June.