The Belgian cycling federation, the KBWB-RLVB, has suspended for now its investigation into former US Postal, Astana and RadioShack-Nissan team manager Johan Bruyneel, citing a “legal tangle.”
The organisation’s president, Tom Van Damme, confirmed the news to Belgian TV channel Sporza during an interview conducted in Louisville, Kentucky, which hosts the world cyclocross championships this weekend.
Bruyneel had reportedly indicated earlier this month that he was prepared to co-operate with the RLVB in its investigation. He had been due to appear before it yesterday, but that hearing did not take place.
The KBWB-RLVB, which has provisionally suspended Bruyneel’s licence, opened its case against him at the request of the UCI in 2010, after Floyd Landis went public with allegations against former US Postal staff including its former manager and Lance Armstrong.
The process is separate to the charges Bruyneel, who lives in London, faces from the United States Anti Doping Agency and which he has decided to fight through arbitration.
Originally, USADA said that the hearing on those charges would take place in November, but nearly three months on there is still no news over when it may be held. We asked USADA for a comment on the reasons for the delay and when the hearing might be held but a USADA spokesperson told us: "At this time we can’t comment on any ongoing cases."
Van Damme said that the lack of progress on the other side of the Atlantic hadn’t helped the situation.
“We look forward to the next step of USADA. First he [Bruyneel] would be called in November. Then it was December and now we are already in February."
During the interview, Van Damme reaffirmed the national federation's zero tolerance approach to doping but queried whether a truth and reconcilation to uncover past actions was in the best interests of the sport as it looks to move forward.
"You have to handle cases that you can still punish," he maintained.
The truth is than in the Netherlands that I saw them, they were indeed a bit huge for cycle infra. However they were rather rare.
Race you there!
Those calipers arent the prettiest. Makes them look like Post-mount.
Yep: "Are REVOLOOP bicycle tubes suitable for rim brakes?...
I'm all for a much more socialist approach to the sorts of things you mention, where there are clear market failures and a need for decent...
Zorbing balls - if it saves just one life
12 corners in just over 2km is a terrifying prospect if it rains!
I think it's:...
As it's often said -'the way to justify the building of a bridge is not too count the number of people swimming the crocodile infested river!'
I used to go that way to work. It's nasty and congested. I doubt any changes will make the congestion worse.