UCI Joins WADA to Investigate Past Corruption

Well, the International Cycling Union (UCI) has finally discarded the garbage and has vowed to reform the system, which we fans all agree is necessary, but to establish an "independent" commission with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to investigate the past culpability of Pat McQuaid and Hein Verbruggen, who allegedly suppressed positive doping tests in return for bribes from Lance Armstrong, tests that were measured in WADA accredited laboratories, and the knowledge of which must have also been suppressed by the individual laboratory directors who were aware of this confidential information seems a bit odd.  It is logical to conclude that if information relating to the suppression of test results did occur that WADA should have been aware of the situation and, should also be "independently" investigated as to who was aware of these allegations, where the document packages were routed, why further action was not taken by the sanctioning body, and why the laboratory employees were ordered to maintain omerta.

Of course, trying to reconstruct who was involved after the lapse of may years may not be so easy to establish because some of the actors have moved on to other professions, quit or retired.  Als,o it is quite well known that after a period of time lapses in memory recall do occur and facts become confused with recollection.  Then, naturally, people lie, deny, and cover up hard to trace points of contention that cannot be conclusively proved without eye witness accounts, or to protect their own interests.  Point of fact, WADA must have been involved in this scandal, the extent of WADA involvement cannot be placed on a back burner while the committee is investigating the role of the UCI.  This UCI, WADA partnership seems so suspicious and to a credulous person reeks of the old proverb, "one hand washes another," and at face value seems a ridiculous, preposterous proposition.  But who knows, the new regime may have more sense than to repeat the same blunders of the old regime and actually appoint a committee that is independent of both the UCI and WADA, with absolute power to subpoena pertinent information without interference from the agencies being investigated.

Then again this formulation of a partnership between the UCI and WADA may be nothing more than window dressing to save face, a device to divert the ongoing cascade of criticism that the UCI and WADA are not doing enough to address the continuing allegations of doping in cycling.  Merely announcing impending meetings to address the issue of past corruption by the UCI and the possible complicity by WADA will accomplish nothing.  Action speaks louder than words, it is not enough to simply formulate a plan, the plan must be acted upon, the disease must be rooted out at the source.  Those guilty must be punished and banned from ever participating or having any future contact with the sport of cycling.  Those who are guilty of violations of national or international laws should be fined and imprisoned.

We shall see.  But for now, the formulation of the "independent" committee is nothing more than a laughable myth.  Let us hope that it does not remain that way.