Expert to investigate Armstrong drug claims

CYCLING’S world ruling body has appointed an independent expert to investigate damaging allegations of doping against seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.

Armstrong is now retired but has been fighting off the allegations since respected French sports daily L'Equipe published damning evidence from drug tests taken during the 1999 Tour de France.

It claimed the 34-year-old American icon tested positive six times during that year's race allegations which Armstrong has vehemently denied but which could be proved or disproved by DNA testing.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) has since come under pressure to get to the bottom of the affair which has helped instil further doubt in the minds of a public already shell-shocked by the 1998 Festina doping scandal.

The UCI has appointed Dutch lawyer and doping specialist Emile Vrijman and his law firm Lamsma Veldstra and Lobé attorneys.

"Within the frame of measures aiming to clarify facts linked to the analysis of urine samples taken during the 1999 Tour de France, the UCI has appointed Mr Emile Vrijman and his law firm in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, as independent investigator to be in charge of this case," a UCI statement said.

"A lawyer and former Director of the National Anti-Doping Agency in The Netherlands (NeCeDo), Mr Vrijman has a large experience in those qualities in the in the field of anti-doping.

"The UCI has entrusted Mr Vrijman and his law firm the task to undertake a comprehensive investigation regarding all issues concerning the testing conducted by the French laboratory of urine samples from the 1999 Tour de France.

"The UCI's decision to appoint an independent investigator is supported by numerous authorities, both in sports, as well as in Anti-Doping. The UCI expects all relevant parties to fully co-operate with the investigation."