From CyclingNews:
CPA supports athletes' rights
In the wake of the investigative reporting carried out by French newspaper
L'Equipe that alleged Lance Armstrong had tested positive for EPO on six
separate occasions during the 1999 Tour de France, the Association of
Professional Cyclists (CPA) has issued a statement calling for more respect
of athletes' rights:
"With the intention of defending the general interests of its members, the
CPA has been following, with a great deal of attention, the declarations,
affirmations, and apparent reports in the press in the last few days
concerning the revelations divulged by the newspaper L'Equipe on the subject
of research carried out on the B samples of the '99 Tour de France.
"From this perspective, the CPA deplores the fact that a leak of
confidential information occurred in France, and the origin of a debate
based on facts that should remain, exclusively, within the context of
medical secrecy and of strict scientific research.
"The riders and the CPA have always adhered to and continue to adhere to the
fight against doping, but they cannot accept this type of situation that
strikes a heavy blow to their interests, their credibility, as well as the
image of cycling in general. As soon as the situation is clearly defined,
they reserve the right to commence possible actions with the aim of having
their integrity recognised.
"In future, the riders and the CPA will continue will continue to
collaborate for the progression of the antidoping fight with complete
understanding with the UCI, without all the polemic and external intrusion.
"For the time being, the riders and the CPA are feeling abused, wait for the
responsibilities to be officially and clearly defined to ask the UCI to put
in place and apply the measures of reinforcement of medical secrecy in
anti-doping controls."