According to the World Doping Agency’s (WADA), David Howman, Lance Armstrong has not done enough to get his life ban reduced, and his latest bid for rehabilitation is coming too late.
In an interview with The Associated Press, David Howman said the disgraced American cyclist did not seize the opportunities he had to come forward with the details of his doping past.
“If he satisfied the criteria to go forward and ask for suspension of his ban, the criteria will be carefully looked at, but so far he has not,” said Howman.
Last week, Armstrong met with the head of U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, Travis Tygart, in an attempt to reduce his lifetime ban.The meeting with Tygart was the first since 2012, the year Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned for life after admitting to his role at the helm of a “widespread and systematic” doping program during his year’s with the US Postal Service team.
However, up until now, Armstrong hasn’t reached out to WADA.
“I’m not sure why he has not done anything,” Howman said. “He certainly had plenty of opportunities, including talking to us, but he has not come forward with substantial information that might be helpful to the cycling fraternity.”
Armstrong previously met twice with European officials investigating doping in cycling as part of the Cycling Independent Reform Commission hearings. The report pointed out that he was the only rider banned for life in 2012 by USADA while former teammates who testified against him were banned for just six months.
The report also noted that Armstrong deserved a “harsh sanction,” and that some reduced penalties could be justified for riders who cooperated with USADA’s initial investigation, which Armstrong did not.
Armstrong has complained of receiving unfair treatment in his campaign for his lifetime suspension to be overturned. The ban also covers sanctioned triathlons and marathons, Armstrong’s other favorite sports.
“If he had been given a harsher treatment, then one would have expected an appeal. There was no appeal,” Howman said.
“Everybody would hope that he would sit down and explain the whole regime and what they did. He had that chance.
“He did not do it before the independent commission that was established by the UCI. He did not do it with USAD. He has not done it with us. It’s almost too late.”
In addition, Howman also agrees with UCI president Brian Cookson, who lashed out at Armstrong last week, when he learned of the disgraced cyclist’s plans to ride in an up and coming Tour de France event, as “disrespectful”.
Armstrong agreed to participate in the event, which is being organized by former English soccer player Geoff Thomas, who is also a cancer survivor himself, to raise $1.5 million for the fight against blood cancer.
“Mr. Cookson is the correct judge of that, and I think his statement reflected what was probably the position from their perspective, which is damaging,” Howman said. “I think there is probably going more attention on what he is doing than on the Tour, and that’s a little bit sad.”
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