On the same topic of motivation, I think it's telling how each of the bodies reacted to Landis' initial e-mail:
- USADA thought these were serious allegations that should be investigated further
- The UCI pre-judged and dismissed Landis' e-mail, and filed a lawsuit against him
USADA seems obligated and compelled to investigate serious accusations, as a core part of their mandate, while the UCI has neglected their primary duty to police the sport it governs.
I think this demonstrates that USADA was motivated to do the job it's mandated to do, while the UCI was clouded with conflicting motivations.
Nevertheless, verdict is the right word. Do you have a better one? That's what I'm missing.
The case was not only about Lance. USADA has now removed many others (doctors, trainers, and the team manager) who were still active in the sport of cycling. That is an important point relevant today and tomorrow.
The issue of the TDF titles for me is a non-issue. There were no winners. In any case, discussing how to clean up that mess shouldn't stop any organization from issuing appropriate sanctions.