Cycling: Parties now eye-to-eye on testing cyclists

The Hillary Commission and New Zealand Cycling have kissed and made up following their standoff over the Lee Vertongen positive drug test case.

The New Zealand Sports Drug Agency is likely to follow the commission's lead, but will wait another few weeks before resuming cycling's testing programme.

Hillary Commission chief executive Peter Dale said he and Cycling New Zealand had yesterday resolved the conflict, which saw Vertongen merely disqualified from a race rather than receiving a two-year ban after testing positive for the amphetamine methylenedioxymethamphetamine (or MDMA, or Ecstasy) following a test at the national track championships in Dunedin in March.

Vertongen pleaded his case through lawyer Tim Castle.

An independent tribunal found for Vertongen and handed down what the NZSDA and Hillary Commission saw as a "soft" penalty.

Testing and funding were immediately suspended. "The board of Cycling New Zealand were unaware of the new policy which stipulates a mandatory ban for serious drug offences," Dale said.

"I now accept there was no subterfuge on the board's part in setting their policy for the tribunal who heard this case.

"They were absolutely devastated to learn their policy was outdated.

"There is, under the new policy, no 'out' in the case of serious drug-taking."

Dale said the commission had agreed that the Vertongen case not be revisited.

"Lee Vertongen has had his day in court. We should now move on.

"The most immediate funding issues surround cycling's carded athletes and those preparing for next year's Commonwealth Games.

"We expect Cycling New Zealand to complete the changes they need to make to their policy by June 29, when the commission next meets to consider further funding," Dale said. "They have agreed to make massive changes and will contact their parent body, the UCI, who have a different set of rules."

Dale said he had spoken to Cycling New Zealand president John McDonnell and had agreed that the matter and reasons for the apparent breakdown in communication should remain in-house.

Drug agency boss Graham Steel, talking of what had obviously become a contentious issue for the agency, the Hillary Commission and the National Olympic Committee, said: "It seems to be a good outcome. There is a point where so much water has gone under the bridge and it is time to move on. The case has had the publicity it deserved. That has to be the up-side of what has to be regarded as a poor decision."

But Steel said he would not recommend his board sanction cycling's testing programme while the "faulty rule" remained in place.

"They have to show that has been changed - and there is no reason to doubt that will not be done - before I would recommend testing be restarted," Steel said. "I'm pleased they intend conveying the decision to the UCI. New Zealand's stance on drugs has to be re-emphasised.

"The pressure is on Cycling New Zealand to fall into line."

Most tests on New Zealand's top cyclists at this time of the year are likely to be out of competition.

"There were a number on our list when testing was suspended," Steel said. "We will just have to wait a little longer, but I'm confident the programme will be back soon."