Armstrong doping inquiry result due in next two weeks

FORLI, Italy, May 12 (Reuters) Internaional Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid has said the results of the independent investigation into allegations that Lance Armstrong tested positive for EPO during the 1999 Tour de France will be announced in the next two weeks.

''Dutch lawyer Emile Vrijman is currently writing his final conclusions and I understand the results will be published in the next two weeks,'' McQuaid said during a visit to the Giro d'Italia today.

''I haven't a clue what's in the report but we will be given a copy and it is possible it will be made public.'' Vrijman is a former director of the Netherlands national anti-doping agency.

In August 2005, the French sports daily L'Equipe published evidence allegedly showing that six of Armstrong's urine samples taken in 1999 resulted positive for the endurance-boosting hormone EPO when they were re-tested last year.

The American has strongly denied ever using banned drugs and says he is the victim of a ''witch hunt.'' In February, the UCI revealed that the UCI's chief medical officer Mario Zorzoli was the unwitting source of the leaked documents that L'Equipe used to accuse Armstrong. He was suspended for a month but reinstated on March 28.

Armstrong retired in July last year after winning his seventh consecutive Tour de France.

REUTERS PG PM0024