Cookson Starts UCI Changes

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New International Cycling Union (UCI) president Brian Cookson has contacted the World Anti-Doping Agency to start talks over an independent investigation into the sport's governing body.

Cookson based his recent election campaign on restoring trust in the UCI which has had acrimonious relationships with doping authorities.

"We've started the work of establishing dialogue with Wada to plan how we will proceed with the independent investigation into the UCI's past," said Cookson.

"We have also been making contact with other key stakeholders in this area, including Usada [United States Anti-Doping Authority], other national anti-doping organisations and the French sports ministry."

Englishman Cookson, 62, who was the former president of British Cycling, also confirmed the decision to "revoke the age limit of 28 that existed for UCI women's teams".

Up until now most riders in a women's team competing at a UCI event have had to be aged below 28. He also said there were plans to form a new commission for women's cycling "to help facilitate the growth of women's elite racing".

Meanwhile, Cookson said the UCI had withdrawn legal action against journalist Paul Kimmage.

In January 2012, former UCI presidents Pat McQuaid, who Cookson replaced, and Hein Verbruggen initiated legal proceedings against Kimmage, claiming they were defamed by articles in the Sunday Times and L'Equipe which discussed doping and the governing body.

Kimmage said: "I am very relieved, it has been a very difficult 20 months and I hope this means things have turned a corner.

"Brian Cookson has my every best wish but he is going to need some time and space to clear up the mess.

"I do believe however that Hein Verbruggen should be removed absolutely from any position at the UCI."

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Lancegate - Kimmage and Walsh

Kimmage Lodges UCI Complaint

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Paul Kimmage has lodged a criminal complaint against International Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid and honorary president Hein Verbruggen.

The UCI, McQuaid and Verbruggen had originally launched a lawsuit against Kimmage but last week suspended defamation proceedings pending the results of an independent report.

Now former rider Kimmage, who has been hugely critical of the UCI leadership's response to doping in cycling, has launched legal proceedings of his own.

Kimmage wrote on Twitter: "I have lodged a criminal complaint against Hein Verbruggen and Pat McQuaid.

"I have initiated these proceedings not for myself - this is not about Paul Kimmage, but on behalf of the whistle blowers - Stephen Swart, Frankie Andreu, Floyd Landis, Christophe Bassons, Nicolas Aubier, Gilles Delion, Graeme Obree and every other cyclist who stood up for truth and the sport they loved and were dismissed as 'cowards' and 'scumbags' by Verbruggen and McQuaid."

A statement released by Kimmage's lawyers, Bonnard Lawson, said the complaint had been lodged with the public prosecutor in the Swiss town of Vevey.

The statement added: "Paul Kimmage complains, among other things, that he was dragged through the mud, that he was called a liar in public and accused in public of committing offences against the honour after he had obtained the publication of an interview by Floyd Landis in which the latter denounced the conduct of the highest officials of the International Cycling Union (UCI)."

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UCI Hold Off on Kimmage Case

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The Management Committee of the International Cycling Union (UCI), meeting in Geneva, decided a number of critical measures in the wake of the USADA ‘Reasoned Decision’ on Lance Armstrong. The Committee acknowledged that decisive action was needed in response to the report. 

With respect to Lance Armstrong and the implications of the USADA sanctions which it endorsed on Monday 22 October, the Management Committee decided not to award victories to any other rider or upgrade other placings in any of the affected events.

The Committee decided to apply this ruling from now on to any competitive sporting results disqualified due to doping for the period from 1998 to 2005, without prejudice to the statute of limitation. The Committee also called on Armstrong and all other affected riders to return the prize money they had received.

The UCI Management Committee acknowledged that a cloud of suspicion would remain hanging over this dark period – but while this might appear harsh for those who rode clean, they would understand there was little honour to be gained in reallocating places.

Second, while the Management Committee expressed confidence that enormous strides had been made in the fight against doping since 2005, in order to ensure that UCI and cycling could move forward with the confidence of all parties, the governing body also decided to establish a fully independent external Commission to look into the various allegations made about UCI relating to the Armstrong affair. 

The Committee agreed that part of the independent Commission’s remit would be to find ways to ensure that persons caught for doping were no longer able to take part in the sport, including as part of an entourage.

In the week of 5 November 2012, therefore, the Management Committee will announce which independent sports body will nominate the members of the Commission and, with the UCI Management Committee, agree appropriate terms of reference. 

Following this, individual members of the independent Commission will be appointed as soon as possible with a view to their report and recommendations being published no later than 1 June 2013. 

Finally, while continuing strongly to maintain the merits of UCI’s case, the Committee decided to seek to suspend the UCI legal action against journalist Paul Kimmage, pending the findings of the independent Commission. 

UCI President Pat McQuaid and Honorary President Hein Verbruggen who are individual parties to the case will similarly seek to put their cases on hold.

UCI President Pat McQuaid said: “As I said on Monday, UCI is determined to turn around this painful episode in the history of our sport. We will take whatever actions are deemed necessary by the independent Commission and we will put cycling back on track. 

“Today, cycling is a completely different sport from what it was in the period 1998-2005. Riders are now subject to the most innovative and effective anti-doping procedures and regulations in sport. Nevertheless, we have listened to the world’s reaction to the Lance Armstrong affair and have taken these additional decisive steps in response to the grave concerns raised.”

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