Responding to yesterday’s news that the federal investigation into Lance Armstrong and the US Postal Service team had been called off, the World Anti-Doping Agency has indicated that it expects the evidence gathered to be handed over for further consideration.
WADA President John Fahey has backed the US Anti-Doping Agency’s statement that it plans to delve into the evidence and to consider if doping violations were committed.
US law doesn’t block the use of performance enhancing drugs, and so the federal investigation was primarily concerned with issues such as fraud. However USADA can prosecute doping violations and impose disciplinary measures against anyone it finds broke the rules.
“WADA has taken note of the decision of the United States Attorney to close the investigation into the US Postal Service cycling team,” said Fahey in statement.
“Of course the investigation was into allegations of fraud, but a large amount of the evidence gathered is likely to be highly pertinent to doping and WADA expects that this evidence will be shared with relevant anti-doping authorities for them to determine whether any breaches of the anti-doping rules have occurred.
“As there are no court cases pending from the federal agencies, WADA anticipates that this can be handed over quickly for the anti-doping agencies to take appropriate action.”
A source close to the previous investigation told VeloNation that there were concerns that evidence might not necessarily be transferred to USADA, thus forcing the agency to work with less material. However Fahey makes it clear that due to prior agreements, he expects this to happen without delay.
“The US is of course a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code, and the US Government has ratified the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport, so WADA is confident that they will carry out their responsibilities as outlined in these documents,” he said.
“That was the case with the investigation into BALCO and WADA looks forward to the same approach happening shortly.”
Although an eight year statute of limitations normally exists, USADA ruled this week that rule can be overturned in specific circumstances. It had previously stripped track and field athlete Eddy Hellebuyck’s results going back to 2004, the date of his positive test for EPO, but then successful extended the penalty back to 2001.
Also see:
Armstrong responds to end of federal investigation into doping allegations
Interview: UCI reacts to investigators dropping Armstrong/US Postal Service case