UCI shoots itself in the foot.. Again

Stop.. Just stop..

As if the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) did not currently have enough negative media attention, UCI president Pat McQuaid and his predecessor Hein Verbruggen have decided to further stoke the fire.  Indeed,  our two loony friends initiated legal proceedings last January against doping critic and journalist Paul Kimmage.   It was revealed on Wednesday that a court date had been set for December 12 and that both McQuaid and Verbruggen were seeking damages of 8000 Swiss francs (each).  News Link

The motivation for such actions?  Annoyance, and claims that the organization’s reputation has been damaged by Kimmage’s articles.   According to Cyclingnews, action had been taken because “ “Mr. McQuaid cannot allow for him or the UCI to be called corrupt.”

(Hein Verbruggen and Pat McQuaid dropping another turd on the sport of Pro Cycling.) (Hein Verbruggen and Pat McQuaid dropping another turd on the sport of Pro Cycling.)

Kimmage, who has written many articles and interviews on the subject of doping had this to say, “We talk about omerta all the time in the sport. This is how they enforce it. Is this what they would say is part of the fight against doping? I don’t think so. This is all about the omerta, and enforcing the omerta.”  Link

The question for me is, of all venues in which the UCI could expend its energy, why go after Kimmage?  It seems strange that in light of the Armstrong allegations (which had been brought forward, long ago by Kimmage), the UCI has decided to put itself back in the spotlight by vengefully attacking one of the sport's most outspoken doping critics...

While perhaps tongue in cheek, Kimmage had this to say about the whole affair, "My reaction to this can be summed up very simply.  Unlike Mr. Verbruggen and Mr. McQuaid, I do not accept donations from Lance Armstrong, so I am not really in a position to defend this. [...]  Hell will freeze over before I issue either of those gentlemen an apology for anything."

"Why is UCI suing an out-of-work journalist Paul Kimmage, when he has done more for the anti-doping movement than any ex-rider? A scandal.” David Walsh (Author of L. A. Confidentiel: Les secrets de Lance Armstrong)



If you are feeling generous, NY Velocity has started a "Paul Kimmage Defense Fund".  I would recommend donating whatever you can, as every dollar raised is a dollar against Omerta.