Published November 6, 2013 05:16PM
Must Read: Canadian officials defend silence on Hesjedal case
Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport official says the organization was by confidentiality agreement with 2012 Giro d'Italia winner
A Canadian official confirmed today that Ryder Hesjedal testified more than a year ago. Photo: Graham Watson | <a id="www.grahamwatson.com" href="http://grahamwatson.com">www.grahamwatson.com</a>
Canadian officials defend silence on Hesjedal case — CBC.com
The head of the Canadian anti-doping agency defended its decision to remain quiet about cyclist Ryder Hesjedal’s admission that he doped a decade ago.
Paul Melia, CEO of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, told CBC.com that a statute of limitations and a confidentiality agreement prevented the agency from going public with Hesjedal’s admission he doped.
VeloNews had contacted Canadian officials last spring, but they refused to comment on whether or not Hesjedal had been in contact with anti-doping authorities.
Last month, Hesjedal admitted he took doping products a decade ago.
According to CBC.com, Hesjedal was asked to appear before the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport last year, after a U.S. investigation uncovered past connections between riders Lance Armstrong, Michael Barry, and Hesjedal.
Melia said Hesjedal admitted to officials more than a year ago that he doped, but says the Centre is bound by its own rules.
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“When we carry out investigations, we have to set up conditions that make it feel comfortable for the athlete and their lawyer to provide information,” Melia said. “So we typically set up a cooperation agreement that states that the information that is going to be provided to us by the athlete will remain confidential unless the information that’s provided, we deem to be a doping violation.”