It has been announced that the panel assembled to investigate the issues and allegations raised and leveled by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) regarding the far-reaching Lance Armstrong scandal will consist of the former Court of Appeal judge Sir Philip Otton, Australian lawyer, Malcolm Holmes QC and UK House of Lords Peer and Paralympic Champion Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson. The Commission, which is to be chaired by Otton, was assembled by John Coates, President of the International Council of Arbitration for Sport, and will be entirely independent not only of the International Cycling Union (UCI), but of CAS itself.
Pat McQuaid, President of the UCI, commented on the announcement: “The wide ranging terms of reference demonstrate the Commission’s determination to review fully the issues contained in the USADA report and I welcome that… As I have said previously, the Commission’s report and recommendations are critical to restoring confidence in the sport of cycling and in the UCI as its governing body. We will co-operate fully with the Commission and provide them with whatever they need to conduct their enquiry and we urge all other interested stakeholders to do the same. We will listen to and act on the Commission’s recommendations.’
The Commission will hold a hearing in London between April 9 and 26 next year, with the aim of submitting its report to the UCI by June 1.
