Cycling brand sues over Lance Armstrong scandal
07/11/2012
Mr Armstrong has been stripped of his seven Tour de France titles after a report was published claiming he had used performance-enhancing drugs over a number of years.
Skins says by sponsoring the sport for five years, its reputation is now damaged and blames the UCI for its handling of the situation.
The company said in a statement: "Skins, which has been a commercial supporter of world cycling for the last five years, has also cited UCI president Pat McQuaid and honorary president for Life Hein Verbruggen for their handling of a crisis which Skins alleges is the main cause for the significant loss of confidence in professional cycling by the public and harms the company's international reputation as a consequence.
"As a supplier and sponsor, Skins has been concerned that cycling's tarnished image which is the result of years of cheating and doping, that manifested itself in the Lance Armstrong case, is damaging to a brand that is associated with a series of commercial cycling partners across the world including USA Cycling, Cycling Australia, Bike NZ, Rabobank Cycling, Team Europcar, Team Lotto Belisol and Team NetApp."
The UCI has released a statement saying that it has taken steps to rectify the situation. It said: "'The UCI can confirm that it has received a letter from the chairman of Skins International Trading AG. In the years that Skins have been a sponsor, since 2008, cycling has been a completely different sport from what it was during the period 1998-2005, when tests for EPO did not exist.
'While we understand the concerns expressed by Skins, the UCI is determined to work hand in hand with all cycling's stakeholders towards the same goal, which is to safeguard the integrity and future wellbeing of the sport."
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