Hein Verbruggen has responded to allegations made by Lance Armstrong that the former UCI president helped create a post-dated medical document to help the American escape suspension for a positive cortisone test. The Dutchman questions Armstrong's credibility after the American's previous claims that he had never settled a case with the UCI.

A few weeks ago, Hein Verbruggen defended his time as UCI president and said that his conscience was completely clean. At the same time, he claimed that he had reached a point where he would no more defend himself and that he would no longer be concerned with the problems that has been raised in relation to his time at the head of the international federation.

Apparently, the Dutchman has changed his mind following new accusations made by Lance Armstrong. Verbruggen has long been claimed to know about Armstrong's doping and to even contribute to covering up positive doping tests.

Yesterday Armstrong said that McQuaid had helped create a post-dated medical document when the American had tested positive for cortisone at the 1999 Tour de France. Claiming that he had suffered from a saddle sore that he never had, Armstrong escaped sanction and went on to win the race.

"The real problem was, the sport was on life support," he told Daily Mail. "And Hein just said, 'This is a real problem for me, this is the knockout punch for our sport, the year after Festina, so we've got to come up with something'. So we backdated the prescription."

Verbruggen has hit back at Armstrong in a text message sent to Dutch television NOS. The Dutchman questions Armstrong's credibility following his earlier claim that he had not settled anything with the UCI.

“Since when does anyone believe Lance Armstrong? When with Oprah Winfrey he said he never settled something with the UCI? Or since he makes movies and interviews and hints that there are juicy stories to come?

“His story is illogical because it was not a positive anti-doping offence, in the opinion of the competent authority. That authority was not the UCI, but the French Ministry. After allegations a year back of a large-scale complicity at the UCI over doping by Lance Armstrong and his team, we are now back to a cortisone-case from 1999 that wasn’t even from the UCI. Sincerely, Hein Verbruggen.”

At the same time, new UCI president Brian Cookson has responded to the claims as the UCI has issued a statement. Cookson is currently working with WADA to set up an independent inquiry into past doping and any wrongdoing by the UCI.

In the statement, the UCI asks everybody to provide evidence which could see Verbruggen being asked to answer questions.

"The UCI's Independent Commission of Inquiry is in the process of being set up and we are in advanced discussions with stakeholders on its terms of reference to allow full investigation of any allegations relating to doping and wrongdoing at the UCI," a UCI statement said on Monday.

"The commission will invite individuals to provide evidence and we would urge all those involved to come forward and help the commission in its work in the best interests of the sport of cycling.

"This investigation is essential to the well-being of cycling in fully understanding the doping culture of the past, the role of the UCI at that time and helping us all to move forward to a clean and healthy future."

Vebruggen has been an honorary president of the UCI since 2008.