Cookson launches plan to unseat world cycling chief

File photo: British Cycling President Brian Cookson (R) presents Jason Kenny of Great Britain with the Sprint World Champion’s Rainbow jersey on day one of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup

Dragging cycling from the “mire” of the Lance Armstrong affair will be Brian Cookson’s objective if the British Cycling chief succeeds in unseating International Cycling Union president Pat McQuaid later this year.

McQuaid’s bid for a third term as president of cycling’s ruling body is set to be decided at a UCI congress at the world championships in Florence in September.

However the Irishman’s tenure is under threat for the first time as the sport battles to rid itself of allegations of collusion in the biggest scandal in its history.

During his seven-year tenure McQuaid is credited with introducing measures to boost the fight against doping and taking top level events to new countries in a bid to globalise the sport.

Yet questions remain over the UCI’s role in allegedly helping Armstrong, the Tour winner in 1999-2005, by covering up tests previously failed by the American.

McQuaid was still only a UCI member when Armstrong retired the first time, in 2005. However the governing body is under the microscope.

As well as fingering Armstrong, the publication of a damning report by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) report in October last year also left a shadow over UCI following accusations the body had been complicit in covering up previous positive tests during the era of McQuaid’s predecessor, Hein Verbruggen.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) also criticised the UCI, after an independent panel that cycling’s governing body had established to examine its own alleged involvement was disbanded before it could report.

Speaking at a tele-conference Tuesday after announcing his bid earlier in the day, Cookson says if elected he will launch an independent investigation to get to the bottom of the UCI’s role in the affair.

“I think it is clear that we still haven’t dealt satisfactorily with the historic allegations of collusion and intrigue around the Lance Armstrong era – we need an independent investigation quickly and I certainly pledge to put that in place as soon as I can if I’m elected,” said Cookson.

“I have been on the UCI committee for the last four years and I have input as much as I feel I can into that organisation and now it has reached a time when it needs a change in leadership.

“It is mired and tied up in controversies from the past and they always will be until we have that change. Things haven’t improved or been delivered and I’m convinced that this is the right time for me to put my name forward.”

So far Cookson is the only UCI member to put his name forward to challenge McQuaid, who was unreachable on Tuesday when contacted by AFP.

But the 61-year-old Englishman, who is credited with pulling British cycling away from the brink of bankruptcy in 1997 and orchestrating it’s successful drive to world and Olympic glory, is confident he can challenge.

Cookson said he has received “hundreds” of messages of support, including from famous cyclists Chris Hoy, Chris Boardman and David Millar.

“It is clear there is an appetite for change out there. I have had hundreds of people emailing me asking what we are going to do about the UCI,” he said.

“Until now I have given the same response that we will sit and wait but now we are in a situation where things have not got much better.

“I have given my confidence and support to Pat McQuaid… but it is time to put your head above the parapet and that is what I have done.”

Cookson said he would also aim to repair bridges with the WADA, with the focus on independent testing of athletes.

“If elected I will devote myself to rebuilding relations with WADA and establishing with them a completely independent body to deal with anti-doping in cycling so that no-one can doubt that it is being tackled without fear or favour.

“I will also seek their full co-operation in the independent investigation into the UCI’s past.”

jd/pi