Following yesterday's firm but very short denial that Hein Verbruggen had any knowledge of Lance Armstrong's doctors writing a back-dated subscription when the American tested positive at the 1999 Tour de France, the former UCI president has elaborated on his views. Admitting that he may have had a short conversation, he is adamant that the responsibility was in the hands of the French authorities.

Hein Verbruggen has often had accusations thrown against him, with several people claiming that the former UCI president had knowledge about the widespread doping that was going on during his tenure, but so far there has been no concrete evidence against him. In recent days, he has once again found himself in the spotlight and this time the accusations come from none other than Lance Armstrong.

The American tested positive for cortisone at the 1999 Tour de France and claims to have had a conversation with Vebruggen who was concerned with the sport's reputation after the Festina scandal. According to Armstrong, Verbruggen suggested that the team doctors wrote a back-dated subscription that would make the use of the substance legal.

Yesterday Verbruggen responded to the accusations, questioning Armstrong's credibility after the American has previously claimed that he had made no deals with the UCI. Today he has elaborated on his thoughts and admitted that he may have spoken with Armstrong in the days after the positive test.

"I might have told him that the UCI needs a prescription but I am sure that was handled by our anti-doping department, not me," he told the Associated Press.

In an email to Velonews, Verbruggen has further explained his take on the situation and claims that he had no possibility to cover up the positive as it was the French ministry who was responsible for the doping controls until 2006.

“It must be very hard to cover up a positive case that was not a positive case,” Verbruggen wrote. “[Until] 2006 it was the French Ministry that was responsible for anti-doping in France with the UCI as kind of an observer. It was the Ministry that decided that [Armstrong] was not positive since they accepted his explanation (ointment). Conclusion: [the] story about cover-up is nonsense.”

Verbruggen explains that Armstrong was tested 15 times during the Tour and that traces of triamcinolone were found on four occasions: July 4, July 14, July 15, and July 21. When the UCI learned of the first test, they contacted Armstrong to ask for a prescription, Verbruggen explains. One was written by doctor Luis Garcia del Moral and was dated July 3.

Armstrong was not asked by the French authorities to provide any further explanation.

“This means that the French Ministry was completely satisfied that the corticosteroids had been used in a way that was not forbidden and that no further justification therefore needed to be provided,” Verbruggen wrote. “No disciplinary proceedings were therefore set in motion against Armstrong by or at the request of the French authorities.”

However, there are also certain inconsistencies in Verbruggen's explanation. According to Velonews, he has claimed that the UCI didn't know that the prescription was backdated. On the other hand, he has told AP that "according to our rules, it [the prescription] could be done afterwards."

UCI president Brian Cookson has asked Verbruggen to contribute to the investigation into past doping and the UCI's role that is currently about to be set up by the UCI and WADA. However, Verbruggen refuses that he has any reason to fear the outcome.

"I have never been afraid of any investigation commission," he told AP. "I will participate in everything and I will be never be found (guilty of) anything."