UCI presidential candidate Brian Cookson has vowed to restore credibility to cycling if he is elected and has outlined his proposed new anti-doping approach.
Cookson, currently British Cycling president, first outlined plans in his election manifesto last month, but feels in light of scepticism around this year’s Tour, more must be done.
If elected to the UCI presidency, Cookson has established seven new measures he would bring in including four-year bans and a ‘fit and proper person’ test.
He said: “This year’s Tour de France has seen many heroic performances yet there has been a mood of scepticism and doubt in some quarters.
“This is deeply frustrating for the riders but, if you look at the past and what our sport has been through, it is not a surprise.
“We must act to change this situation so that the public can feel confident and cycling’s great performances can be heralded not disparaged.
“After a magnificent end to the 100th Tour de France, the UCI owes it to all the clean riders to show leadership on anti-doping.”
Cookson’s seven-point plan also calls for an end to the UCI’s ‘public feuding’ with the likes of WADA and USADA and an expansion of anti-doping education programmes.
He also vowed to bring more transparency, data-sharing and co-operation by teams alongside their anti-doping body and his proposed Independent Anti-Doping Unit.
If elected, Cookson also vowed to instigate a fully independent investigation into doping, with amnesties and reductions in sanctions to encourage information to be brought forward to ‘deal once and for all with the past’.
Finally, he proposed the creation of a new independent team compliance officer, to report regularly to the Independent Anti-Doping Unit.
“In light of the continuing issues arising from the Armstrong era and cycling’s ongoing credibility problem, more can and must be done,” he added.
“It has nearly always required a third party such as government, the police or a national anti-doping agency to launch major investigations into doping in cycling.
“The UCI has rarely seemed willing to take the initiative and it is critical that this changes as a matter of urgency. Looking ahead, the UCI must demonstrate true leadership and show a real desire to deal with the past and properly tackle doping in the future.
“Taken together, these anti-doping measures can set a new path for the UCI and help to rebuild trust in our athletes and our sport. If we fail to embrace change, our sport will continue to be damaged by on-going innuendo, rumour and a fundamental lack of trust.”
A full copy of Brian Cookson’s manifesto can be found at http://www.briancookson.org.
