October 30/13 16:43 pm - USADA Issues Statement on Hesjedal Doping Confession

Posted by Editoress on 10/30/13
 

The United States Anti-doping Agency (USADA) has issued a statement confirming that Ryder Hesjedal, who admitted to doping in the past, testified to them.  In their statement they implicitly confirmed that Hesjedal's doping took place outside of the eight year Statute of Limitations for doping sanctions.

The USADA statement:

As has been publicly reported, we can confirm that USADA, along with the Canadian Center for Ethics in Sport (CCES), interviewed cyclist, Ryder Hesjedal, earlier this year as part of our ongoing investigation into the sport of cycling.  Athletes like him, and others, who have voluntarily come in, taken accountability for their actions and have been fully truthful, are essential to securing a brighter future for the sport of cycling.

As in all cases, where there is actionable evidence of doping within the statute of limitations, we have imposed discipline and announced sanctions.  We continue our ongoing investigation into the sport of cycling, and have also been urging the UCI to take the decisive and transparent action it announced over a year ago to truly set the sport on a new foundation for the good of clean athletes.

We are hopeful and confident that the new UCI leadership will fulfill its promise of conducting a full and independent process to finally put this sport on a new path toward integrity that protects the rights of clean athletes, and believe strongly the time for this is now.