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LONDON -- The independent panel investigating doping in cycling hopes the chance for reduced bans and even immunity will encourage witnesses -- including Lance Armstrong -- to come forward. Tasked with shedding more light on the sports tainted past, the three-man commission, which is also investigating whether cyclings governing body colluded with Armstrong, has the power to propose reduced sanctions against testimonies. It has been set up with the approval of the World Anti-Doping Agency and will be able to seal deals with cheats offering valuable information. "The reduced bans will obviously apply to people who have not been already sanctioned," commission chairman Dick Marty told a conference call on Tuesday, adding that immunity could also be granted in some cases if the information is of "great importance." Armstrong has already been banned from Olympic sports for life but can still hope his case will be reviewed if he gives substantial information to the panel based in Lausanne, Switzerland. "For those who have already been punished and are still willing to give important information, the commission can advise the competent authorities to reconsider and shorten their bans," Marty said. The panel, which had a UCI-funded budget of 3 million Swiss francs ($3.35 million) was a key element in the manifesto of Brian Cookson, who was elected UCI president last year after defeating Pat McQuaid. It started its work on Tuesday with the aim of producing a comprehensive report within a year. "Its not just about learning from the past, its also learning lessons for the future so we dont make the same mistakes," Cookson said. The commissions main job is to determine how the culture of doping was able to flourish within cycling and to "discover the main providers and facilitators of doping in cycling" since the Festina affair in 1998. Armstrong has said he would co-operate with any international commission on doping in cycling. He has so far refused to provide sworn testimony to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, whose detailed report in 2012 of drug use by Armstrongs U.S. Postal Service team led to him being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles. Cookson did not say whether Armstrong or former UCI presidents Hein Verbruggen and McQuaid had been contacted by the commission but added they would be more than welcomed. The UCI and Verbruggen have been accused of protecting Armstrong and helping cover up his doping. The American might be interested in co-operating after telling a British newspaper last year that Verbruggen helped him cover up doping at the 1999 Tour de France. Verbruggen dismissed it as a "ridiculous story." "There will an invitation to anyone who comes forward," Cookson said. "To anybody, Lance Armstrong or anybody else. Please come forward and offer your information to the commission. ... This is a window of opportunity." Both Marty and Cookson said confidentiality will be granted to witnesses but all the criminal offences compiled will be transmitted to the relevant authorities, whichever the country. They added that negotiations will take place with possible witnesses ahead of their testimonies in order to determine if the information they can provide justifies a reduced ban. "There can be preliminary discussions but until the evidence has been heard it is impossible to determine the amount of sanction reduction," Cookson said. "The reduced sanctions will only apply for the period that the commission is operating, and the danger is other people will come forward. If anyone has something to hide now is the time to come forward and tell all of the truth before someone else comes and tells the truth about your activities." The other members of the commission are German anti-doping expert Ulrich Haas and Peter Nicholson, a former Australian military officer and war crimes investigator. Paul Molitor Brewers Jersey . -- Albert Pujols is thrilled to have a reason to forget about his first two disappointing seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. Trey Supak Jersey . But history aside, theyre still happy to participate in the Par 3 contest, traditionally held on the day prior to the first round of the Masters. https://www.cheapbrewers.com/999y-ben-ga...-brewers.html.C. -- Charles Oakley, one of the NBAs all-time tough guys, may not return to the Charlotte Bobcats bench next season because of a painful back condition he says was caused during an assault last year in Las Vegas. Taylor Williams Jersey .J. -- The New York Jets have promoted Tony Sparano Jr. Christian Yelich Brewers Jersey . Lawries batting helmet hit an umpire during his ninth-inning outburst in the Jays 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The 22-year-old threw his helmet to the ground and it bounced up and hit home plate umpire Bill Miller on the right hip after Lawrie was called out on strikes for the second out.ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Jake Odorizzi rebounded from his worst start with a gem. Ordorizzi and two pitchers combined on a one-hitter as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 7-0 on Saturday night. Coming off a start Monday night in which he gave up a career-high eight runs over four innings in a 9-1 loss at Baltimore, Odorizzi (10-11) allowed a fourth-inning single to Will Middlebrooks, three walks and struck out seven over seven innings. "He had a really good look about him," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Everything was working." Jeff Beliveau and Kirby Yates completed the one-hitter. Tampa Bay set a single-season team record with its 18th shutout this year. Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia was removed from the game in the second inning due to concussion-like symptoms. Pedroia was struck in the head by the arm of Logan Forsythe as the Rays infielder was sliding head-first into second while advancing on a flyball. Red Sox manager John Farrell said Pedroia was dizzy after the play, but improved as the game went on. "He caught him with a good elbow to the left side of the head," Farrell said. "Well take every precaution necessary with Dustin." Forsythe said the contact was unintentional. "The only move that I made was to try to swim-move the tag to get out of the way," Forsythe said. James Loney had an RBI double during a three-run second off Allen Webster (3-3) that put the Rays ahead 3-0. Ben Zobrist made it 4-0 on his second run-scoring grounder of the game in the fourth. Tampa Bay went up 7-0 with a three-run fifth. Two runs scored when catcher David Ross was charged withh an error for an off-target throw to first on Brandon Guyers bunt single.dddddddddddd Webster gave up six runs and five hits over four-plus innings. The Red Sox loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh when Odorizzi walked three consecutive batters, but the right-hander worked out of trouble by getting a pop fly from Xander Bogaerts. The long seventh cost Odorizzi any chance for his first career complete game. "Frustrating," he said. The start of the game was delayed 12 minutes after a series of stadium lights at Tropicana Field went out during a thunderstorm just before the scheduled first pitch. The Rays said the problem was caused by lightning striking a nearby electrical substation. TRAINERS ROOM Red Sox: Bogaerts was activated from the seven-day concussion list. He missed six games after being hit in the head by a pitch from Seattles Felix Hernandez August 22. Rays: CF Desmond Jennings was out of the lineup for the second straight game due to a sore left knee. He is not expected to start Sunday. MINOR MATTERS Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo, signed to a seven-year, $72.5 million contract a week ago, is scheduled to make his pro debut for the Gulf Coast League Red Sox in Game 2 of the GCL championship series Sunday. The Red Sox can win the league title with a win over the GCL Yankees. MYERS MISERY Rays OF Wil Myers was hitless in five at-bats and is just 6 for 42 since returning from a broken right wrist. He has struck out 16 times over the stretch. UP NEXT Red Sox RHP Clay Buchholz (5-8) and Rays RHP Alex Cobb (9-6) are the scheduled starters Sunday. Cobb is 7-0 with a 2.14 ERA over his last 11 starts. ' ' '