Cycling: WADA seek heavier penalties against Armstrong manager

LAUSANNE (AFP) - The World Anti-Doping Agency is seeking tougher action against disgraced cycling champion Lance Armstrong's former manager Johan Bruyneel, the agency announced on Monday.

The Belgian was banned from all sporting activity for 10 years in April by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) for his part in Armstrong's "doping conspiracy".

But WADA is appealing to the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS) to have his ban extended.

They are also seeking an increase in the eight-year penalities handed down by the AAA to Spaniards Pedro Celaya and Pepe Marti, a trainer and doctor respectively, who worked with Bruyneel.

All three were part of Armstrong's US Postal team staff from 1999 to 2005 during his seven Tour de France wins, which have subsequently been struck from the record books due to his admissions of doping.

"In appealing the AAA's decision to CAS, WADA requests that consideration be given to longer sanctions for all three individuals involved in order to best protect athletes, and ensure a clean sport of cycling," WADA said in a statement.

"UCI and USADA are supportive of the appeal to seek longer sanctions, and will provide support to WADA during this process."

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