The air is getting thinner for former UCI President Hein Verbruggen. Although he denied Lance Armstrong's allegations, he admitted that he might have talked to the American about a recipe. Now, however, other ex-professionals have also spoken out, putting Verbruggen in the twilight.
For example, Edwig Hooydonck gave to the AD Sportwereld on record: “After I quit, I said in an interview to Hein Verbruggen that EPO had been on the rise in the peloton since the early '90s. He said curtly that I was exaggerating.” The statement of the Dutch ex-professional Peter Stevenhaagen aims in the same direction. During his time with Team PDM, Verbruggen reportedly said he knew "exactly what's going on at PDM." This statement was followed by a clear announcement: "I determine who is positive."
If the Italian media is to be believed, Verbruggen is said to have threatened the Mapei team with a one-year racing ban in 1999 - after the then Mapei team boss Giorgio Squinzi had expressed doubts about a big tour "clean" to finish in a top place.
Verbruggen himself vehemently denies the allegations. He says he has never exchanged a word with Stevenhaagen, nor with the other two on the tricky subject that is now blowing his mind.