Top Story Replay - IOC President Looks for Positive from Armstrong Debacle

This story was originally published Jan. 23.

(ATR) IOC President Jacques Rogge tells Around the Rings he expects Lance Armstrong to surrender his Olympic bronze medal without a quarrel.

"I hope he thinks it’s a good idea to send it back to the USOC, who will send it back to the IOC," said the IOC leader in an interview .

Last week the IOC served notice to Armstrong that he must return his bronze medal and diploma from the time trial event at the Sydney Olympics. Despite no direct evidence that Armstrong doped in Sydney, Rogge says the IOC wants the medal returned as the result of the International Cycling Union order that strips all of Armstrong’s titles from 1999 to 2006. The bronze was Armstrong’s only podium finish in two Olympics.

Rogge says he watched the interview of Armstrong by Oprah Winfrey but that questions remain unanswered.

"Clearly there is a need to know more about the methodology, how this cheating was possible. There are the flaws of the anti-doping system itself. But there is also definitely a system of procurement. Where did he procure these drugs?"

Rogge is critical of $150,000 in donations Armstrong made to UCI during the term of president Hein Verbruggen and successor Pat McQuaid. He says accepting the money was a conflict of interest.

"I don’t think it was in the mode of corruption, but I think there was a conflict of interest in giving a donation to the ruling governing body. I think that both Pat McQuaidand Hein Verbruggen admit this was in error."

Despite the sordid reputation of cycling, Rogge would not say that the sport’s place in the Olympics is in danger. He praised UCI for taking the lead with new anti-doping measures. And he welcomes efforts by UCI to clean house,

"They have to do it and they have started doing that. I think the independent commission they have established will examine the alleged role of UCI in the Armstrong case.There is now a call by the commission to have a truth and reconciliation part of their activities, I think that’s a good idea.

"The governance of the UCI itself has to be addressed. That’s exactly what Samaranch was able to do after the Salt Lake City scandal of the IOC. We changed, we reformed in 2000."

Rogge says the Armstrong case will be a watershed moment for the fight against doping like past episodes such as Ben Johnson and Marion Jones.

"It is an extraordinary case given the personality and record of Armstrong," he says. But Rogge says it’s also time to look ahead.

"This is hopefully a critical moment for the good. We prefer to focus on the development of sport, on the emergence of new clean champions rather than digging into the past. You need to do it, but it’s not a pleasant moment to do it."

Written by Ed Hula.