First, no one can be too big for the sport if the sport is to be sustainable. Professional cycling has existed for more than 100 years before he came on the scene and I am sure it can survive. The allegations are fundamental to sport, and whilst sports can survive without integrity, their value to society in my view is greatly diminished. It is alleged that he was effectively protected by the UCI presumably because of their commercial ambitions for cycling – but what is the point of those ambitions if it is not to develop a sport with integrity. I fear that it was for the personal aggrandisement of the individuals in the sporting bodies themselves rather than for the benefit of sport itself. It is about time these international sporting bodies were held to account and if this is an opportunity to do it – fantastic.
Second, whilst raising funds under a false premise will undoubtedly cause his charities issues, they can survive and indeed thrive if he comes clean and explains why he did it. He recovered and still achieved hugely on the basis that he thought was necessary. If he is big enough to come clean, he will still be capable of being highly regarded if handled well, he is still an extraordinary individual, albeit not so extraordinary that he is not flawed like the rest of us. If he truly believes in his cause, then this is what he will do if he is banned, I can’t imagine him doing before but one can live in hope.
