UCI losing the plot - now suing Dick Pound
BERNE, Switzerland, March 20 (Reuters) - The UCI said on Thursday it was taking former WADA president Richard Pound to court for what it called "continual injurious and biased comments" against world cycling's ruling body and its president Hein Verbruggen.
In a statement released on Thursday, the International Cycling Union (UCI) said it was suing Pound before Swiss courts without giving further details.
"On many occasions Mr Pound has publicly questioned the extent of the UCI's efforts in the fight against doping," the short statement concluded.
Pound stepped down as World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) president at the end of 2007 after serving the maximum two terms of office.
During his tenure he gained a reputation for confrontational comments aimed at those he believed should be doing more in the fight against doping in professional sport.
American sports bodies and soccer authorities were among his frequent targets, along with cycling.
Pound was previously threatened with a defamation suit by Walter Meyer, the banned Olympic cross-country skiing coach whose presence at the 2006 Turin Winter Games led to raids on the headquarters of the Austrian cross-country and biathlon teams.
Meyer, who fled Turin shortly before the raids and then drove his car into a police road block near the Austrian border, later withdrew his suit.
In a statement released on Thursday, the International Cycling Union (UCI) said it was suing Pound before Swiss courts without giving further details.
"On many occasions Mr Pound has publicly questioned the extent of the UCI's efforts in the fight against doping," the short statement concluded.
Pound stepped down as World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) president at the end of 2007 after serving the maximum two terms of office.
During his tenure he gained a reputation for confrontational comments aimed at those he believed should be doing more in the fight against doping in professional sport.
American sports bodies and soccer authorities were among his frequent targets, along with cycling.
Pound was previously threatened with a defamation suit by Walter Meyer, the banned Olympic cross-country skiing coach whose presence at the 2006 Turin Winter Games led to raids on the headquarters of the Austrian cross-country and biathlon teams.
Meyer, who fled Turin shortly before the raids and then drove his car into a police road block near the Austrian border, later withdrew his suit.
-- Dirk Hofman Motorhomes --
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Comments
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Bring it on, it would be nice to see McQuaid in court.
A shame the UCI is wasting money on court cases like this though. It makes them look shrill and vindictive, insecure and defensive. The money would be better spent on fighting doping instead of Mr Pound's free speech.0 -
Now let's see, which of the two do we think really was telling it like it was, Dick Pound or Hein Verbruggen ?
Astonishing.
But then again not, it's actually pretty normal.
No wonder the sport is in such a state when the governing body thinks it's better to attack in court anyone who points out its failings rather than to actually do something about doping.0 -
What next from the UCI !
It should be interesting what comes out of this as I believe Pound will tell it as it is.0 -
As the BBC report it
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_s ... 307977.stmEx-drugs chief sued by cycle body
Pound stepped down as Wada president at the end of 2007
The International Cycling Union plans to sue former World Anti-Doping Agency president Dick Pound for "continual injurious and biased comments".
"On many occasions Mr Pound has publicly questioned the extent of the UCI's efforts in the fight against doping," said cycling's governing body.
Pound stepped down as World Anti-Doping Agency chief at the end of 2007 after the maximum two terms of office.
The UCI's action will be heard before the Swiss courts.
Well if I were a Swiss court and UCI was trying to say Dick was wrong in questioning the extent of their efforts against doping...case dismissed !0
