article_snippet: The man who stood as UCI president between 1991 and 2005, and remains in a senior position in the organisation as well as an honorary member of the International Olympic Committee, was accused of being complicit in one of the biggest cover-ups in sporting history in an independent report into cycling's doping past.
article_snippet: Verbruggen Lance Armstrong is alleged to have interfered in doping issues to protect Verbruggen star riders such as the disgraced former American superstar .
article_snippet: But clearly, as is shown in report, decisions were made at that time which were about protecting the reputation of the sport rather than the integrity of the sport. '
article_snippet: Matt Lawton's exclusive scoop on the Armstrong doping scandal, Daily Mail back page from November 18 .
article_snippet: Cookson also accepts the CIRC report is right to suggest that doping remains a serious problem for the current professional peloton. '
article_snippet: One of the things it says is that things have improved substantially in terms of doping in cycling,' said Cookson. '
article_snippet: For instance, one person said 90 per cent of the current professional peloton is still doping.
article_snippet: Reports allege that the UCI acted favourably to Armstrong by not target-testing Armstrong despite suspicions .
highlights_snippet: Verbruggen is accused of colluding with riders to conceal doping offences .