USA Cycling says it will enforce sanctions, praises riders for testifying
The national governing body confirms notification from USADA as CEO says sport's future "has never been brighter"
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (VN) — USA Cycling announced Thursday that it would enforce sanctions ordered against five U.S. riders who testified in the Lance Armstrong inquiry.
“USA Cycling has been notified by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) that five U.S. riders — Tom Danielson, George Hincapie, Levi Leipheimer, Christian Vande Velde and David Zabriskie — have each accepted six-month suspensions, effective Sept. 1, 2012, as a result of their testimony in the Lance Armstrong investigation,” the national governing body announced via press release.
“USA Cycling will enforce these sanctions and is currently reviewing the impact of the sanctions on historical results.”
Steve Johnson, president and CEO of USA Cycling, praised the five riders for their testimony.
“I would like to personally acknowledge the extraordinary courage of these riders who placed their careers on the line in order to come forward with their experiences of past doping practices,” he said.
“While this is an extremely difficult time for the sport, I believe that riders of today understand that doping is intolerable, that it will be discovered, and that a decision to engage in doping in any form is senseless.
“As a result, I am greatly encouraged that the culture of professional cycling has changed and the future of our sport has never been brighter.”