The “Official Statement from WADA on the Vrijman Report”: Unintentional Proof to the Contrary / Emile Vrijman. – (International Sports Law Journal (2007) 1-2 (Apr-Jun) : p. 3-10)
Content:
1.) Introduction
1.2) Procedural aspects
1.3) WADA’s response
1.4) Purpose of this article
2.) The reason for an investigation
2.1) An Article in a newspaper
2.2) An investigation?
2.3) Letter of Authority
3.) Findings of the independent investigation
3.1) The investigators
3.2) Analyses LNDD of the urine sample from the 1999 Tour de France
3.3) The LNDD’s report
3.4) The UCI’s role
3.5) WADA’s role
3.6) Evaluation of the results of the investigation
4.) The “WADA Statement”
4.1) Structure of the WADA Statement
4.2) WADA’s criticism with regard to the findings of the investigation
4.3) Response to WADA’s criticisms
4.4) Conclusions with regard to the WADA Statement
Based on a general analysis of (the content of ) the WADA Statement itself, this article will examine in detail WADA’s criticism regrading (the conduct of ) the investigation in general and, more specifically, its results, in particular as far as the assessment of (the extent and nature of ) WADA’s involvement in this matter and the legitimacy of that involvement are concerned. Furthermore, this article will show why both the manner of WADA’s response, as well as the arguments it has put forward in the Statement, appear to confirm - it must be assumed unintentionally - rather then deny the investigation’s findings and assessment of WADA’s involvement in this matter.
Finally, this article will consider whether, and to what extent, the investigation’s findings regarding WADA might, at the same time, provide a possible explanation for the absence of any response or reaction, let alone action, by the “International Olympic Committee” (“IOC”), “International Sports Federations” (“IFs”) and national governments.
Given the fact, however, that almost one year has passed since the “Vrijman report” was first published, the article will begin by briefly summarising the principal facts and events which prompted the (“UCI”), the coordinating International Federation responsible for the sport of cycling, at the time to commission the independent investigation concerned, before proceeding to consider the main findings of the investigation in this matter as contained in the “Vrijman report”.
