UCI considering amnesty for riders who admit doping

Bjarne Riis is just one of several retired and current racer to admit to doping, but whether more confessions will follow remains to be seen. Erik Zabel has also recently confessed to doping, but will not suffer punishment for his 1996 offense because he is beyond the statute of limitations. However, many other current racers are implicated in the ongoing Operación Puerto scandal, which has already been going on for a year and has no end in sight.

However, according to the Associated Press, UCI anti-doping manager Anne Gripper doubts the string of cyclists' confessions will continue if they face possible punishment. Several groups, including the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC), have asked the UCI to consider amnesty for riders who admit to doping in order to encourage more riders to confess and allow the sport to move beyond current scandals.

"To create a new future you have to admit the past and learn from it. Only that way we can move on in a 'clean way,'" she said according to Berlingske Tidende on Friday.

"We hope that the latest statements from Germany and Denmark will be followed by other riders from other countries," Gripper said. "Let us be open about the past and confess what needs to be confessed."

UCI spokesman Enrico Carpani told the Associated Press Friday that the UCI needs "some time to decide" regarding possible amnesty.