Recently, cycling’s image has been tarnished after a series of dope saga, including that of legendary lance Armstrong, who was striped of all his titles and termed as the person who was running most professionalized doping programme and it has put question marks on the sport’s future.
Similarly, the sport’s ruling body’s president Pat Mcquaid has faced many questions and the world governing body - Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)’s has been facing doubts over its credibility.
But, McQuaid, who was here at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Velodrome on the occasion of Asian Cycling Championship, said that cycling community has moved over from the Armstrong issue and their doping process has now been properly equipped to counter the doping challenge.
“We have moved on from that controversy. It was not at all a blow to cycling and I don’t see it has left any negative impact on the sport. Sport moves on without caring anything about an individual who was caught taking dope. And I don’t think that issue would be a deterrent for young cyclists to come into cycling. They should view today’s icons. Nowadays also, we have many brilliant athletes - Mark Cavendish, Bradley Wiggins - who can be their role models,” McQuaid told reporters on Monday afternoon here.
On the UCI’s plan to counter the doping, the former cyclist from Ireland said that Arsmstrong doped 10 to 15 years back and now they have come up with much stronger and much sophisticated process of halting doping - like biological passport.
“look, first of all, doping is not confined to cycling only. See, Armstrong issue is a thing of 10 to 15 years back. The products that were used 15 years ago were undectable. It was a difficult times for all of us. Now, we have upgraded our process and we are advancing day by day in that point. UCI is the only sporting federation in the world which has a full-proof bio-passport programme. So, our doping controlling programme is currently equipped to control the menace,” McQuaid added.
McQuaid has been the head of UCI since last seven and half years and he views that he has been successful in his job.
“When I have come in, the task for mine were making the sport a much globalised one and doping control- which I believe we have done well in that front as well,” the president explained.
On Thursday, Asian Cycling Confederation has said that the Indian authorities have not maintained the venue properly after the CommonWealth Games 2010. But, McQuaid don’t think so.
“This velodrome is one of the best in Asia and I heard that it was shut for two years after the CWG. During my meeting with Indian officials, I will discuss with them on how utilize this infrastructure more. UCI sees India as a strong country with great potential in cycling and it is also the fourth biggest economy in the world and I am optimistic of India having its own World tour event in near future,” McQuaid signed off.