Post by tibby000 on Dec 20, 2013 8:08:25 GMT
LONDON -- Cyclists will be offered a chance to confess to past doping offences without fear of retribution in an attempt to uncover the full scale of the Lance Armstrong scandal and drug use in the sport. The UCI agreed Friday to introduce a "truth and reconciliation" commission with the World Anti-Doping Agency, cutting out the independent panel established to investigate the governing bodys links to Armstrong. UCI President Pat McQuaid said he wants to ensure cycling has "drawn a line in the sand finally -- and for the last time" on doping scandals that have tarnished the credibility of the sport. After years of denials, Armstrong, who was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned for life, admitted to doping in an interview last week with Oprah Winfrey. "The truth and reconciliation process is the best way that we can examine the culture of doping in cycling in the past, and can clear the air so that cycling can move forward," McQuaid said after a stormy first hearing by the panel investigating his body. The UCIs reputation has been badly damaged by accusations its leaders covered up suspicious doping tests given by Armstrong during his 1999-2005 run of Tour de France victories and improperly accepted donations from him totalling $125,000. The independent commission formed to establish the veracity of those claims clashed at Fridays hearing with the UCIs lawyer over two key demands it has made -- that it broadens the investigation into Armstrongs role as the ringleader of an elaborate doping scheme on the U.S. Postal Service team, and establishes an amnesty program of its own to ensure witnesses come forward. The UCI rebuffed their proposals by insisting it would be too costly to fund wide-scale investigations, and the three-person panel will meet again on Thursday to discuss whether to proceed with a process it is unhappy with. And McQuaid said that, since the independent commission was established, "several of our stakeholders have said they wont take part in it. Not just USADA (the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency) and WADA but others, national federations." The UCI said it would update the independent panel on the talks planned this weekend with WADA President John Fahey about the amnesty commission. McQuaid first revealed he was considering such an amnesty program to The Associated Press in September, but said Friday the plans were only finalized in recent days. "WADA have indicated that they would share costs with the UCI," McQuaid said. "The WADA code is being reviewed and an amnesty is under discussion within that review. But were just bringing that aspect forward." But British judge Philip Otton, who heads the independent panel, accused the UCI of trying to use the delay in the truth and reconciliation process as "an excuse to kick the USADA allegations into the long grass." Now the UCI is effectively asking the panel it established to suspend itself. It had been due to hold full hearings in April and report by June. UCI lawyer Ian Mill said the "entire process has been derailed" because the panel is demanding a "truth and reconciliation" process of its own and a widening of its role into the wider doping scandal. "Getting to the bottom and determining how the USPS team operated without detection or sanction in a reasonable timescale ... causes us considerable anxiety," Mill said. "We can do something which we understand you dont want to do ... a limited inquiry taking place in April," he added. In a heated exchange at the Law Society in London, Mill told the panel: "Were not trying to kill this inquiry. We set you up." "Please do not raise your voice," Otton interjected. "We are not the bad guys here," Mill said. "We have a finite amount of money available to us ... we are not like a football body." McQuaid later said that delaying the hearing was not designed to help his own re-election prospects in September, insisting: "I have nothing to worry about." The panel fears that the process is being intentionally stalled, complaining about a lack of full disclosure by the UCI. "It just amazes me that we have had absolutely no documents whatsoever," former British Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson said to the UCIs lawyer. "When are we going to get the ... files" Kevin Faulk Jersey . Dmitry Chesnokov of Yahoo is reporting that Radulov has inked a four-year deal with CSKA Moscow of the KHL that will pay him $9. Irving Fryar Jersey . -- Jay Haas shot a 7 under 65 and took a two-stroke lead over three other players after two rounds of the First Tee Open on Saturday. www.jerseypatriots.com/Jersey-Logan-Mankins/. "He started putting me on the ice to strengthen them at the suggestion from a doctor," he said. Weight said it wasnt a pretty sight at the rink in St. Clair Shores, Mich. "I looked like Forrest Gump," he joked. Devin McCourty Jersey . - Alex Tagliani claimed the pole position for the JuliaWine. Andre Tippett Jersey .ca is giving you complete coverage of UEFA EURO 2012. It continues on TSN.ANAHEIM, Calif. -- C.J. Wilson wasnt threatened by the swarm of bees that took over the Angel Stadium field during two brief game delays. With little help from his teammates, the Los Angeles Angels durable left-hander couldnt avoid a streak-snapping loss. Justin Smoak hit a tiebreaking two-run homer, Felix Hernandez had 10 strikeouts in a four-inning start and the Seattle Mariners beat the Angels 3-2 Sunday in a game delayed twice by bees. Both teams retreated to their dugouts during an initial 23-minute delay in the third inning when the bees roamed over the right side of the field and eventually hovered near the ficus trees beyond the wall in centre. The Angels had two runners on and two outs when the bees interrupted. Most fans stayed in their seats as a few brave grounds crew members and crowd volunteers attempted to deter the swarm with a broom, a Gatorade cooler and a cardboard box. "That dude just came out of the stands and said Its OK. Im a beekeeper," Wilson said. "It was like a Seinfeld episode. Do you tip a bee guy Throw him a 20 I dont carry cash on me when Im pitching, so it wouldnt have been me." Hernandez escaped a bases-loaded jam when the game resumed, but there was another short delay in the fourth when Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun began swatting at more bees in the outfield. "I thought they had gotten rid of all of them, and then when I got out there, all the fans were yelling: Theyre on the ground! Theyre on the ground!" Calhoun said. "So Im looking around and I see them swarming and stuff, and then I see a pile of bees on the ground -- hundreds and hundreds of bees. There were bees everywhere. I had to call (umpire) Jim Joyce over there." A quick blast from the fire extinguisher dissuaded the bees from sticking around. "Kole was really freaking out all of a sudden because I guess there was a softball-size bee colony that was swarming on the ground," Wilson said. "It was amazing. Ive never seen that before." Wilson (17-7) pitched eight-hit ball into the ninth inning but lost for the first time since July 5 against Boston, ending streaks of nine straight victories and 13 consecutive starts without a loss. The left-hander struck oout nine while reaching 200 innings for the fourth consecutive season.dddddddddddd Wilson had two outs and two strikes before Smoak lifted a tailing fly into the short stands down the left-field line. The homer was Smoaks 18th this season, but his first batting right-handed. Wilson got a big ovation when he left with one out in the ninth after 123 pitches. He has been the Angels best pitcher in their disappointing season, going 13-1 with a 2.91 ERA in his previous 18 starts since June 14. "Its frustrating to get outpitched, but it happens," Wilson said. Calhoun hit a solo homer in the eighth inning, and Efren Navarro got his first career RBI for the Angels, who couldnt finish off a three-game sweep. Los Angeles had won nine of 11 and 21 of 28 for the majors best record since late August despite getting eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday. Los Angeles had plenty of opportunities to help out Wilson, but stranded three runners in the seventh and two more in the eighth. Despite the bees rude interruptions, Hernandez set a major league record for strikeouts in a four-inning start. King Felix hadnt pitched in 20 days since leaving a loss at Kansas City on Sept. 2 with a strained oblique muscle. Hernandez walked four and gave up a run in the Angels second-inning rally, but otherwise looked sharp in his return to the rotation. "I was just trying not to overthrow, just throw strikes," said Hernandez, who left feeling fine after 92 pitches. "It was a little different with the bees. I was talking to the guys: Im going to be in the clubhouse if they come over here." Oliver Perez (3-3) struck out the side in the fifth inning after relieving Hernandez. Danny Farquhar, the Mariners fifth reliever, pitched the ninth for his 15th save in 19 chances. "We had to use a lot of guys, most of which were tired and at the end of their ropes, but they did fine," Seattle manager Eric Wedge said. Mike Zunino had an early RBI double in just the third win in 14 games for the Mariners. NOTES: Just eight pitchers have thrown 200 innings in each of the past four seasons. ... Seattle had lost five straight to Los Angeles. ... The Angels last five games have been decided by one run. ' ' '