Cycling boss admits naivete

CYCLING Australia’s chief admits his organisation was perhaps ‘‘naive’’ in appointing Matt White to key roles, and his may not be the only Australian involvement revealed in the Lance Armstrong fallout.

White admitted at the weekend to being involved in doping during his riding career after being outed in the investigation documents that led to seven-time Tour de France winner Armstrong being banned for life.

One of the most influential figures in Australian cycling, White stood down from his posts as national men’s road racing coordinator and selector and sports director for Australian professional road team Orica-GreenEDGE.

Cycling Australia president Klaus Mueller yesterday admitted CA could have made more thorough checks before appointing White, whose job future will be discussed at a board meeting later this week.

And he reiterated that an amnesty for Australian riders involved in doping during the period in which Armstrong’s team dominated the sport needed to be seriously considered.

‘‘The material is coming out to suggest that certainly up until 2005, that there was certainly in some teams systemic cheating,’’ Mueller said yesterday.

‘‘That’s one of the factors we need to take into account in determining whether there ought to be an amnesty (for Australian cyclists).’’

Mueller said it was possible that Australian cyclists involved in riding during that period ‘‘may have misled us’’.