PARIS, March 6, 2010 (AFP) – Cycling boss Pat McQuaid said Saturday he was not surprised by the French anti-doping agency’s (AFLD) announcement they would not be cooperating with the International Cycling Union (UCI) at next week’s Paris-Nice race.
“For the UCI it’s an accepted fact that the AFLD will not cooperate with us,” said UCI chief McQuaid.
“It’s more important for the AFLD to position themselves with regard to the media impact than to worry about the final result.”
The AFLD said Friday they would not be cooperating with the UCI during the Paris-Nice and would turn over any doping-related information they might have to local judicial authorities, instead of the UCI.
The row involves who is responsible for anti-doping controls with the UCI stating they are responsible for doping controls at the Paris-Nice because it is an international race.
“The AFLD questions the motivation of the UCI to control the Paris-Nice race which takes place in the heart of France and mobilizes large public resources,” the AFLD statement read.
McQuaid regretted the AFLD announcement was made “just before the start of the first big French race which reopens an argument which nobody needs.”
