The director general of the World Anti-Doping Agency is disappointed lance Armstrong has not apologized for costly and time-consuming lawsuits before the former cycling champion admitted using performance-enhancing drugs. In an interview on Wednesday, David Howman (in pic) said NFl and NHl players need to change their attitude toward drug testing and professional soccer clubs should coordinate efforts with FIFA and continental confederations. He also said WADA policies would not prohibit mixed martial arts star Anderson Silva from competing in taekwondo at next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Armstrong was given a lifetime ban from elite sport in 2012 and admitted the following year his denials had been lies. He was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles. “He was able to beat the system in ways and means where others were complicit and others understood what he was trying to do. And I’m not just talking about his team. There was a healthy disrespect for the rules. I don’t think that will happen again,” Howman said. “We spent a lot of time, a lot of money. We fended off a lot of legal action (that was) all for nothing. And we’re not going to be compensated. We haven’t even been apologized to, and that’s regrettable.”
In discussing professional sports in the U.S., he criticized the NFl Players Association for not agreeing to more stringent anti-doping policies. Howman said WADA policies would not prohibit Silva from competing in Rio in taekwondo because his failed drug tests did not come under the WADA code. Silva tested positive for steroids in January. He has insisted he is clean.