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 The disgraced American, stripped of his seven Tour titles because of
blood doping, has been invited by fellow cancer survivor and former
English soccer player Geoff Thomas to ride the route to raise money
for a leukemia charity.
"I understand that he's been approached by Geoff Thomas to take part
in a charity event and I'm sure that Geoff means well," UCI chief
Cookson told reporters at a sports industry meeting on Tuesday.
"Bringing Lance Armstrong to ride on some or all of the route one
day before the race, I can't think of better words than
disrespectful and inappropriate to the Tour de France, the current
riders, the UCI and anti-doping.
"The charity justification was used quite a lot throughout his
career and that got us into all sorts of a mess which is well
documented.
"It looks like Lance was persuaded into it and if he was it's not a
good judgment.
"I've never met him or spoken to him on the phone or by email, I'm
not unhappy with that situation but I think there's a message I'm
giving out today."
However, Cookson said he was powerless to stop Armstrong going ahead
with the charity ride.
"I have no authority," he said. "He can cycle around France as long
as he wants, there's nothing the UCI can do about that really."
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Asked whether he had any sympathy for Armstrong, who is trying to
have a life ban from cycling imposed by American anti-doping body
USADA reduced, Cookson was unequivocal.
"He has been singled out and made an exceptional case but then there
aren't many who have won the Tour de France seven times by cheating,
so he was an exceptional case," Cookson said.
"I'm not anxious to be the president that brings Lance Armstrong
back into cycling."
(Editing by Ed Osmond)
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