Verbruggen, who was the president of the sport’s world governing body during the time of Armstrong’s seven consecutive Tour de France wins, was quoted in De Telegraaf as saying: “Armstrong has never been tested positive including by the USADA (the US Anti-Doping Agency).

There is therefore not a trace of proof.” But Verbruggen, who is now UCI honorary president, issued a strongly-worded statement through UCI slating the “tone of De Telegraaf’s article which unjustly states that despite USADA’s dossier I still insist there is no proof” against Armstrong.