To the editor:
Re: "Cycling's reputation still in doubt," Letters, Oct. 26.
Contrary to Mr. Cho's claim, there was no bribe from Mr. Armstrong to cover a positive test in Switzerland, as there was no "positive" test to begin with. Swiss authorities denied on several occasions that Armstrong's test was exceeding UCI guidelines and warned that it should not be used by USADA.
The AFP reported "Lance Armstrong's contentious 2001 Tour of Switzerland drug test was suspicious, but wasn't proof of EPO doping, even by today's stringent standards," the laboratory chief who oversaw the procedure has told AFP.
"There was no positive test on the Tour of Switzerland in 2001," said Martial Saugy, the director of the Lausanne laboratory which conducted the tests.
As much as this whole tragic affair has made a former hero into a villain, we should resist mob mentality and deal only with facts. However, I do agree that cycling's reputation is still in doubt, and I add that UCI and USADA's competency should be questioned
George Vytasek, Vancouver
