Following the news that the Court of Arbitration for Sport had refused his appeal relating to his two month suspension, Team RadioShack general manager Johan Bruyneel has complained that the issue ‘really makes no sense at all.’
Bruyneel was handed a two month ban and a fine of 10,000 Swiss Francs (CHF) on October 29th, as a result of two issues. The first was the team’s infringement on the final day of the 2010 Tour de France, when it lined out in black jerseys bearing the logo ‘28’ but didn’t seek UCI permission beforehand. After being instructed to change the jerseys during the early part of the stage, it then compounded the issue by wearing the jerseys again at the final podium presentation.
Bruyneel’s second infringement was writing a critical message on Twitter. “Ok people! Now it’s official! To be a race commissar[e] you don’t need brains but only know the rules! Their motto: ‘c’est le reglement!’”
He later backtracked with a publicly-released apology. “When race officials informed me that the team wouldn't be able to race with these special jerseys, I became frustrated that our message would not be heard and seen around the world,” he wrote. “During this time of frustration, I put a disrespectful and unprofessional message on my personal Twitter account targeting the UCI race officials. This was not the correct way to handle the situation, nor the example I want to set for my team, family and fans.
“I understand the race officials' decision and publicly apologize for offending any official or representative of the UCI. It is also my intent to personally apologize to UCI President Pat McQuaid for my remarks.”
Bruyneel was not appealing the two month suspension to CAS, but rather the start date. He wrote about his reasons on his personal website today.
“On October 29th, I was given a suspension from the UCI for two months, which would be effective February 1, 2011 and run through March 31, 2011. On the same day, Carlos Barredo, a professional rider from another team, also received a two month suspension for an unrelated infraction [hitting another rider with his front wheel – ed.] which also happened during the 2010 Tour de France. I was surprised to see that Barredo's suspension would be effective January 1, 2011 and run through February 28, 2011. I was unclear why a professional sports governing body would assign two different suspension start dates, especially when the 2011 cycling season starts prior to February 1, 2011 (first World Tour event starts January 16).
“Only out of principle, I questioned the UCI on the reason my suspension started February 1 and not January 1 like Barredo's. When I didn't receive an answer, I filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). I was not appealing the suspension, but rather asking the ban to start on January 1 - the same start date as Barredo's. I received notice today that CAS has rejected my appeal and that the UCI's decision is maintained. The letter that I received from CAS also does not provide any justification on the ruling.”
In its ruling this week, CAS said that it would explain the reasons at a later date.
Bruyneel’s appeal was unexpected, given that the date of his suspension means that he will be able to work alongside Lance Armstrong during his final international race appearance at the Santos Tour Down Under. In fact, at the time the UCI announced its ruling, the difference between the start date for Barredo and Bruyneel’s suspensions was noted and some speculated the Tour Down Under was the reason why the difference existed.
Bruyneel will head to Australia, but maintains he is not satisfied. “As originally ruled by the UCI, I will now have to serve my suspension starting on February 1,” he wrote. “To this day, I am still left wondering the reason the UCI has not acted in a uniformed and consistent manner using common sense. I will start the season as a sports director on January 16th in Australia at the Santos Tour Down Under, and after this event I will serve a 2 month suspension in February and March. My protest was solely out of principle as this is just one example of many where people in our sport are forced to accept arbitrary decisions.
“This particular one, like so many other things in our sport, really makes no sense to me at all, but it is what it is... Does it make sense to you???” he concluded.