UCI president wants a CAS-like system to pass initial judgement .

[WillyWoet]

An important step in the fight against doping. Should be done, but without the involvement of the UCI, both de facto and de jure - obviously.

Wonder what he means by: the CAS might not accept apeals from world federations next year?

Heres the link: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...ational-federations-judging-doping-cases.aspx

 

[Benotti69]

a new banking method perchance?

another link

http://road.cc/content/news/48553-p...i-planning-set-own-tribunal-hear-doping-cases

 

[DirtyWorks]

Wait a Second

The organization responsible for promoting the sport wants to run a court? Let's just remove the artifice and let the UCI's proposed court be adjudicated by ASO's TdF boss.

He already made noises this year of having all dope testing run by the UCI, e.g. no domestic federation in the process to screw up and issue any AAF's to strategically important riders. Now he wants more authority? Despots and dictators the world over will be envious.

My guess is CAS has enough experience with the federations to see they only waste the court's time.

 

[B_Ugli]

Agreed. The CAS should be given the additional power to sanction Spain and Russia with a hefty fine, exclusion from Olympics, World Championships etc etc. Maybe a 3 strike rule should be bought in - i.e. 3 instances of bending the rules and your out!

 

[Cloxxki]

Agreed. The CAS should be given the additional power to sanction Spain and Russia with a hefty fine, exclusion from Olympics, World Championships etc etc. Maybe a 3 strike rule should be bought in - i.e. 3 instances of bending the rules and your out!

Indeed.

No more playing stupid by national unions.

And it's not just about judging where there IS a case.
Our national athletics union is actively ignoring all kinds of police proof regarding Operacion Galgo. No case. Athlete looks to be greatly protected, even openly pampered. CAS will only get involved after there was a case, and someone appeal within a set time frame. The one institution it seems we can trust, only gets involved in specific situations.

 

[Epicycle]

In the US the process is actually codified in law through the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, at least that's the way USADA sees it. It guarantees the process a certain level of arbitration via the American Arbitration Association's rules. I can't say if other countries have similar statutes but that type of thing may constrain the UCI's ambition. There's also the question of paying for the prosecution of these cases, which can get expensive in a fair arbitration setting. The UCI would be taking on the added burden of paying for the initial hearing as well as the appeal.

Obviously it would be great if it were truly an independent and consistent procedure for cyclists of all nationalities but I'm skeptical too.

 

[fatandfast]

In the US the process is actually codified in law through the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, at least that's the way USADA sees it. It guarantees the process a certain level of arbitration via the American Arbitration Association's rules. I can't say if other countries have similar statutes but that type of thing may constrain the UCI's ambition. There's also the question of paying for the prosecution of these cases, which can get expensive in a fair arbitration setting. The UCI would be taking on the added burden of paying for the initial hearing as well as the appeal.

Obviously it would be great if it were truly an independent and consistent procedure for cyclists of all nationalities but I'm skeptical too.

This is exactly the problem. Even the title of the Ted Stevens Act has nothing to do with professional cycling. The UCI continues to blur the line from amateur to professional. In the US no pro teams, players unions or the players themselves would subject themselves or their incomes to a process designed for amateurs. Pro cyclists are the only group that would accept this. Armstrong is probably going to wish he was from Spain or Kazakhstan

 

[Epicycle]

This is exactly the problem. Even the title of the Ted Stevens Act has nothing to do with professional cycling. The UCI continues to blur the line from amateur to professional. In the US no pro teams, players unions or the players themselves would subject themselves or their incomes to a process designed for amateurs. Pro cyclists are the only group that would accept this. Armstrong is probably going to wish he was from Spain or Kazakhstan

All international sport federations are like that.

The UCI is the union of the individual national cycling governing bodies. That's not going to change. What you are talking about is an independent pro cycling league (like we hear rumors of) that comes to an agreement with the UCI (like the NBA has with FIBA) for cyclists to compete in the Olympics or things like that.

 

[fatandfast]

All international sport federations are like that.

The UCI is the union of the individual national cycling governing bodies. That's not going to change. What you are talking about is an independent pro cycling league (like we hear rumors of) that comes to an agreement with the UCI (like the NBA has with FIBA) for cyclists to compete in the Olympics or things like that.

Pro basketball players have nothing to do with FIBA. When they ended the recent strike, FIBA was not at the table. When pro athletes negotiate contracts, and endorsements they don't comply with any FIBA rules. If asked I would guess that few US pro basketball player would know what FIBA is or what it stands for.

When Conatdor pleads his case, he will do it in front of a body that is not made up of UCI members. The strange way that the UCI punishes violating athletes is amateur at best. Why send the guy to face the federation of his or her home country? It's not a professional organization.
The UCI should hire the front office of Man U or Arsenal and ask them to run cycling like they did the multi million pound professional sport. Man U alone is worth 2.4 billion dollars . If the Glazer family took control of a few teams McQuaid would be out within days if not hours.

Can you imagine an NBA fan being told that the team was out of business just months before the season was to resume? No, but that is what Geox fans found out. During the TDF there was rumors that one of the premier teams,Astana was not paying it's athletes. Can't imagine Rooney or Kobe questioning if they are getting paid, normal for the unprofessionally run bike racing.

Lance Armstrong doing McEwen a solid by getting him a job. 1 of the most popular cyclists in one cycling's growing powers finding out that he has no team or job, well done Pat. The management of cycling does way more damage than doping ever will.

 

[DirtyWorks]

This is exactly the problem. Even the title of the Ted Stevens Act has nothing to do with professional cycling. The UCI continues to blur the line from amateur to professional. In the US no pro teams, players unions or the players themselves would subject themselves or their incomes to a process designed for amateurs. Pro cyclists are the only group that would accept this. Armstrong is probably going to wish he was from Spain or Kazakhstan

Disagree. The Ted Steven's Act is a double-edged sword. While it offers some protections to athletes, it mostly protects IOC blessed federations from a wide range of anti-competitive business law. Essentially granting IOC funded federations a permanent, protected revenue stream.

Armstrong's investors run USAC and Wonderboy is on the board of USACDF. USAC will do nothing to Wonderboy.

Once upon a time the UCI was once a loosely organized federation. Lately the revenue end was carved out and controlled by Pat and Hein. They couldn't capture media rights as the UCI so Pat, Hein, and Rumpf used UCI revenue to start their own completely separate cycling production company.

The UCI must use local federations. It allows the UCI to honor sovereign law and retain complete control of Pro cycling. The beauty of this arrangement is exemplified by Contador's AAF processing by the Spanish Federation. Pat gets to blame the federation if there's too much outrage while he's in there making sure one of his stars is getting the lightest penalty possible. It's a wonderful system for ASO.