Are the UCI declaring their hand?
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cycling/usada-has-no-legal-right-to-strip-lance-armstrong/story-fn8sc2wz-1226458458001
Sydney's Phill Bates, a member of the international cycling union's arbitration tribunal, yesterday described USADA's actions against Armstrong as unenforceable and described the organisation's chief executive Travis Tygart as an "egomaniac publicity hunter".
"While Armstrong may have opted not to continue with his legal fight, USADA, a signatory to the WADA code, has no jurisdiction to punish or impose sanctions against any rider," Bates said.
"In addition, the Armstrong case also raises the legal issue of the meaning of article 17 of the WADA code, which imposes a limitation period of eight years for prosecuting doping cases. ...
"If USADA believes Armstrong has a case to answer, the ultimate judge should be the UCI, not a publicity-seeking chief executive hellbent on a witch-hunt to chop down the tallest poppy in our sport." ...
"Everything I've read of the USADA case has been driven by Tygart and against Armstrong built on hearsay evidence provided by a small group of riders who rode with him more than 12 years ago, and some of whom are still competing today.
"If Tygart and USADA believe otherwise, then why not make public the agency's findings and have them tested before the appropriate court?"