Leopard S.A. the company that manages the RadioShack-Nissan-Trek cycling team, has issued a statement distancing itself from investigations into the actions of its general manager, Johan Bruyneel, while Bruyneel managed the Lance Armstrong-led US Postal squad.
On Wednesday (13), the United States Anti-Doping Agency, USADA, issued a statement confirming it had issued formal notice of alleged rule violations to Armstrong and five other members of the now defunct US Postal squad.
While none of the officials was named in the statement issued by the CEO of USADA, Travis T Tygart, it was understood that Bruyneel was one of the five other team members, identified as three doctors and two officials.
Tonight (Friday June 15) Leopard SA has published a statement on its website pleding to take “all appropriate measures” to protect its integrity.
The statement reads: “LEOPARD S.A. (with its cycling team know as RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK) has been informed of the content of the document whereby the USADA has opened formal disciplinary proceedings against some individuals, including Mr Johan BRUYNEEL.
“After a first review of this document, LEOPARD S.A. takes note that none of the investigated facts relate to its cycling team, to its riders or to the present activities of Mr Bruyneel within the LEOPARD S.A. structure. Indeed, these alleged facts report exclusively to events that took place prior to the start of the collaboration between LEOPARD S.A. and Mr Bruyneel.
“LEOPARD S.A. stepped into cycling with the firm commitment of actively promoting a zero doping policy. In this context, and in the light of the possible development of the case, LEOPARD S.A. will take all appropriate measures, in order to guarantee its sporting integrity and the general interest of cycling.”
Earlier, Bruyneel had issued a statement on his own website, criticising USADA, and strongly denying any wrongdoing.
Bruyneel said: “I am dismayed that once again doping allegations have been raised against me, this time by USADA.
“Following a Department of Justice Grand Jury investigation, no charges were filed against me. It cannot be right that I or anyone else can be pursued from court to court simply because our accusers do not like the decisions made along the way and so attempt to find a court which will get them the result they want.
“I shall of course cooperate fully with the investigation, although I have no doubt the end result will be the same as all the other investigations over the years.
“I have never participated in any doping activity and I am innocent of all charges.”
Lance Armstrong won the Tour De France for seven consecutive years from 1999 to 2005.
Despite never having failed a drug test, and having seen an investigation into allegations against him dropped by the US Justice Department, Armstrong has been banned from competing in triathlons by USADA in its latest action.
Armstrong has strongly criticised the actions of the agency, accusing it of pursuing “star chamber practices.”
In a statement on his website, Armstrong said: “I have never doped, and, unlike many of my accusers, I have competed as an endurance athlete for 25 years with no spike in performance, passed more than 500 drug tests and never failed one.
“That USADA ignores this fundamental distinction and charges me instead of the admitted dopers says far more about USADA, its lack of fairness and this vendetta than it does about my guilt or innocence.
