|
 Armstrong told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper in an interview
published Monday that Verbruggen insisted "we've got to come up with
something" to explain his positive tests for a banned
corticosteroid.
Cycling's governing body, the UCI, appeared to ignore its own
anti-doping rules when it accepted Armstrong's backdated
prescription for a cream to treat saddle sores.
That allowed Armstrong to stay in the race, and he went on to win
the first of his seven Tours, helping revive the sport after doping
scandals wrecked the 1998 event.
"The real problem was, the sport was on life support," Armstrong
said in the article. "And Hein just said, 'This is a real problem
for me; this is the knockout punch for our sport ... so we've got to
come up with something.' So we backdated the prescription."
Though Armstrong has acknowledged the prescription excuse in a
television interview with Oprah Winfrey, he had not previously
linked Verbruggen or other UCI officials to a cover-up.
Verbruggen, who served as UCI president until 2005, did not respond
to phone messages Monday.
The Dutch official, who is still listed by the UCI as its honorary
president, has long denied any collusion with Armstrong despite
widespread claims the American rider was protected. Armstrong spoke out while the UCI is in the
process of creating an independent commission that will examine
alleged official collusion, and he is expected to be the star
witness.
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Armstrong, who is seeking a reduction in his lifetime ban, told
the Daily Mail that he would reveal details of how the UCI
operated.
"I have no loyalty toward them," he said. "In the proper forum
I'll tell everyone what they want to know. I'm not going to lie
to protect these guys. I hate them. They threw me under the
bus."
In October 2012, the UCI decided not to challenge a U.S.
Anti-Doping Agency verdict to strip Armstrong of his Tour titles
and ban him for life. Verbruggen's successor, Pat McQuaid, said
the disgraced rider deserved to be forgotten by the sport.
The UCI has been led since September by British official Brian
Cookson, who defeated McQuaid in a presidential election in
which the Armstrong case and cycling's doping past were central
issues.
In a statement Monday, the UCI said its commission would "invite
individuals to provide evidence."
"We would urge all those involved to come forward and help the
Commission in its work in the best interests of the sport of
cycling," the governing body said. "This investigation is
essential to the well-being of cycling in fully understanding
the doping culture of the past, the role of the UCI at that time
and helping us all to move forward to a clean and healthy
future."
[Associated
Press]
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