McQuaid to deliver Armstrong verdict

CYCLING:THE LANCE Armstrong doping scandal reaches a decisive point today when cycling's governing body announces whether it has ratified the US Anti-Doping Agency's (Usada) sanctions. Whatever happens, however, the affair is set to run and run.

International Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid will hold a news conference at 11am today at which he is widely expected to confirm that Armstrong is banned for life and loses his record seven Tour de France titles.

Last month, McQuaid said the UCI had no reason to appeal against the Usada decision, adding that the ruling body was waiting to read the reasoned decision and case file published after Armstrong elected not to fight the charges.

The Usada report, released last week, is a 1,000-page document which shows, the agency says, that Armstrong took part in a doping scheme on his way to his unrivalled success on the tour between 1999 and 2005.

The report accused Armstrong, as head of the US Postal Service Pro Cycling Team, of running “the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping program that sport has ever seen”. It included sworn testimony from 26 people, including 15 riders, who described years of performance-enhancing drug use.

If the UCI rules that Usada has failed to make a case, the sport’s governing body will take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Should Armstrong lose his tour titles, race director Christian Prudhomme has said he does not want them handed to anyone else, given that the era was tainted by doping.

The UCI, however, is in an uncomfortable position because the Usada report said Armstrong told his then team-mates Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton he made a positive drugs test at the Tour of Switzerland “go away” with a payment to the UCI in 2001.

McQuaid has said Armstrong made a $100,000 (€76,800) donation to the UCI in 2002 but “vehemently denied”, according to the report, that it was part of a covering up of a positive test.

Armstrong said he was not fazed by the Usada report but some of his long-time partners have been, with Nike dropping the disgraced cyclist over the scandal last Wednesday.

On the same day, Armstrong stepped down as chairman of the Livestrong foundation, although he remained on the board of the association he launched in 1997 to fight cancer.He was also dropped by brewer Anheuser-Busch and, according to reports, by Trek Bicycles and energy drink maker FRS.

Speculation over a confession by Armstrong has been growing, although he could face perjury charges if he admitted to doping during his career.

The Texan is also likely to face financial consequences if the UCI ratifies the Usada decision. Promotional company SCA, which paid $7.5 million (€5.75 million) to Armstrong after he provided sworn evidence he did not use performance-enhancing drugs, could seek to recoup the money.

Meanwhile, the Sunday Times newspaper, which lost $1 million (€770,000) in an out-of-court settlement following a libel action, could sue the American.

Armstrong mentor Johan Bruyneel’s case will not be resolved today because the Belgian has chosen to fight the charges in front of an arbitration panel, possibly later this year.

Pedro Celaya, a doctor and one of the five people charged by Usada, has also opted for arbitration. Doctors Luis Garcia del Moral, Pepe Martí and Michele Ferrari, who were also charged by Usada, have been banned for life.

Former Armstrong team-mates who testified were given reduced bans. Those still active will be back in time for the 2013 Tour de France, whose route will be unveiled on Wednesday as cycling’s wheel continues to turn with or without Armstrong.