<p>World Anti-Doping Agency chief John Fahey said today that "everybody doped" in cycling during the Lance Armstrong era and the sport's administrators at the time should take some responsibility.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The US rider's epic fall concluded yesterday with the loss of seven Tour de France titles, leaving the sport grasping for a way to move past a drug-tainted past.<br /><br />The International Cycling Union (UCI) supported the findings of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), which branded Armstrong the central figure in a sophisticated, systematic doping scheme.<br /><br />Fahey said those in charge at the time must bear some responsibility.<br /><br />"There was a period of time in which the culture of cycling was that everybody doped.<br /><br /> There is no doubt about that. The administrators have to take some responsibility for that," the Australian told ABC radio.<br /><br />"Is that period gone? That's something which I think the jury is out on and I think UCI are meeting this Friday to consider a number of aspects, including what their response must be, going forward."<br /><br />Pressed on whether he meant everyone -- literally -- in that era used drugs, Fahey replied: "The evidence that was given by those riders who are teammates of Lance Armstrong, one after the other, they said the same thing -- that you could not compete unless you were doping."<br /><br />In all, 26 people -- including 11 former teammates -- told USADA that Armstrong and his team used and trafficked in banned drugs and also used blood transfusions, and that Armstrong pressured others to do so. <br /><br />In a separate interview with Australia's Fox Sports, Fahey said cycling would only regain credibility when the senior officials on watch during the "debacle" were removed.<br /><br />"Looking back, clearly the doping was widespread," he said.<br /><br />"If that doping was widespread, then the question is legitimately put: 'Who was stopping it? Who was working against it? Why wasn't it stopped?'<br /><br />"I think it's relevant to ask those questions."<br /><br />Fahey added that anyone involved during the Armstrong years could not justify their place in the sport's hierarchy at the UCI.<br /><br />"It's not a question of simply saying we'll rule off the line and go on," he said.<br /><br />"They clearly have to take the blinkers off, look at the past, examine the people who are there, ask themselves the questions: 'Are those same people still in the sport and can they proceed forward with those people remaining?'<br /><br />"I don't think there's any credibility if they don't do that and I think they need to get confidence back into the sport, so that its millions of supporters around the world will watch and support the sport going forward."<br /><br />UCI president Pat McQuaid, who has held the position since 2006, yesterday warned against blaming the sport's authorities for the doping scandal.<br /><br />His predecessor Hein Verbruggen was at the helm during Armstrong's reign.</p>
<p>World Anti-Doping Agency chief John Fahey said today that "everybody doped" in cycling during the Lance Armstrong era and the sport's administrators at the time should take some responsibility.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The US rider's epic fall concluded yesterday with the loss of seven Tour de France titles, leaving the sport grasping for a way to move past a drug-tainted past.<br /><br />The International Cycling Union (UCI) supported the findings of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), which branded Armstrong the central figure in a sophisticated, systematic doping scheme.<br /><br />Fahey said those in charge at the time must bear some responsibility.<br /><br />"There was a period of time in which the culture of cycling was that everybody doped.<br /><br /> There is no doubt about that. The administrators have to take some responsibility for that," the Australian told ABC radio.<br /><br />"Is that period gone? That's something which I think the jury is out on and I think UCI are meeting this Friday to consider a number of aspects, including what their response must be, going forward."<br /><br />Pressed on whether he meant everyone -- literally -- in that era used drugs, Fahey replied: "The evidence that was given by those riders who are teammates of Lance Armstrong, one after the other, they said the same thing -- that you could not compete unless you were doping."<br /><br />In all, 26 people -- including 11 former teammates -- told USADA that Armstrong and his team used and trafficked in banned drugs and also used blood transfusions, and that Armstrong pressured others to do so. <br /><br />In a separate interview with Australia's Fox Sports, Fahey said cycling would only regain credibility when the senior officials on watch during the "debacle" were removed.<br /><br />"Looking back, clearly the doping was widespread," he said.<br /><br />"If that doping was widespread, then the question is legitimately put: 'Who was stopping it? Who was working against it? Why wasn't it stopped?'<br /><br />"I think it's relevant to ask those questions."<br /><br />Fahey added that anyone involved during the Armstrong years could not justify their place in the sport's hierarchy at the UCI.<br /><br />"It's not a question of simply saying we'll rule off the line and go on," he said.<br /><br />"They clearly have to take the blinkers off, look at the past, examine the people who are there, ask themselves the questions: 'Are those same people still in the sport and can they proceed forward with those people remaining?'<br /><br />"I don't think there's any credibility if they don't do that and I think they need to get confidence back into the sport, so that its millions of supporters around the world will watch and support the sport going forward."<br /><br />UCI president Pat McQuaid, who has held the position since 2006, yesterday warned against blaming the sport's authorities for the doping scandal.<br /><br />His predecessor Hein Verbruggen was at the helm during Armstrong's reign.</p>
