One day after the Change Cycling Now pressure group presented its charter, it has been contacted by the independent commission looking into the UCI’s actions during the Lance Armstrong era and during the subsequent investigations.
CCN has confirmed the approach, and said that it has been asked to provide assistance into its enquiries.
Given that CCN includes anti-doping scientists Michael Ashenden and Robin Parisotto, triple Tour de France winner Greg LeMond, former Armstrong team-mate Jonathan Vaughters and Armstrong critics Paul Kimmage and David Walsh, the group’s members will likely have considerable information they can share.
In addition, Eric Boyer is also a CCN member and stated yesterday that he had been threatened with legal action by UCI President Pat McQuaid after he raised concerns about Armstrong’s return to racing. He has said that he still has the letter in question and, presumably, will consider handing it over.
“We were approached immediately after yesterday's press conference in London and today I met with legal representatives of the commission,” said CCN organiser Jaimie Fuller. “I shall discuss the approach with the other members of the Change Cycling Now panel and we will consider the appropriate action.”
Meanwhile the independent commission chairman Sir Phillip Otton has sought to reassure about its stance in relation to the UCI. “This Commission has been appointed independently of the UCI and has itself fixed the Terms of Reference and the procedure which we will follow in gathering evidence.”
He has appealed for people with information to make it known to them now. “The findings of the Commission are dependent on the evidence that is provided to it, and the panel are committed to moving swiftly. We encourage anyone who believes that they have evidence relevant to the Terms of Reference to send it in to evidence@macfarlanes.com before 31 December.”
The other panel members are Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Malcolm Holmes QC.
Timescale for investigation:
The commission has outlined its Procedural Order, thus laying out the timetable for the various steps in the investigative process.
It is as follows:
4 – 31 Dec 2012: Anyone with evidence which they believe to be relevant to the Terms of Reference should submit documents and/or a written summary of evidence they will be able to give to the Commission via email address – evidence@macfarlanes.com or by post to Macfarlanes (20 Cursitor Street, London, EC4A 1LT): the Commission has written to some potential witnesses identified by it and is in the process of contacting others, but invites witnesses to contact the Commission direct.
31 January 2013: All current or former employees of the UCI to provide all documents relevant to the Terms of Reference in their control or possession to the Commission: the Commission has already written to the UCI requesting full disclosure.
28 February 2013: Any individual or organisation asked to provide additional information by the Commission should do so by this date.
22 March 2013: The Commission may ask for supplementary information from certain individuals to be provided by this date.
9 – 26 April 2013 The hearing in London – location TBC
1 June 2013: The Commission aims to submit its Report to the UCI (or shortly thereafter)
UCI President Pat McQuaid is facing re-election in September of next year. LeMond stated yesterday that he would consider standing for a role of interim president, but that he believed others would be better suited longer term.