Cycling Australia has endorsed the bid by Brian Cookson to become the next president of the UCI. Source: AAP
BRITISH Cycling boss Brian Cookson has urged any Australians not telling the whole truth about doping to come clean, after Cycling Australia on Monday endorsed him as their preferred candidate for president of the sport's world governing body.
Cookson, who addressed the CA board in Sydney last weekend, is in the midst of a bitter election campaign with current UCI president, Pat McQuaid, who is seeking a third term in office.
A total of 42 votes from around the world will determine the outcome of the election on September 27 in Florence.
Cookson said it could take from two-to-five years to re-establish credibility in a sport that has been rocked by a series of doping scandals, most notably the one involving seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong.
Australia's reputation has also taken a battering in recent times, with Matt White, Stephen Hodge and Stuart O'Grady all admitting to doping.
"People don't do themselves any favours by telling part of the truth because inevitably sooner or later the whole truth comes out," Cookson told AAP in Sydney on Monday.
"I would encourage anybody, not just the people named but others in that situation, that the sooner they tell all the truth, the better it will be for all of us and for them."
CA President Klaus Mueller said his board decided Cookson was the best candidate to restore the sport and UCI's credibility.
He said CA enjoyed a very good relationship with McQuaid, who addressed them by teleconference over the weekend, but was sharply critical of the reigning UCI boss.
"The inadequate response in dealing with the fallout from the Armstrong affair and subsequent allegations brought against the UCI has emphasised a need for leadership change to allow the sport to move on and realise its enormous potential," Mueller said.
Cookson described Cycling Australia's endorsement of him as very significant.
"Hopefully that will spread to the rest of Oceania and the whole three votes of Oceania will come my way," Cookson said.
"I don't take that for granted."
Cookson it would be difficult but not impossible to beat Irishman McQuaid, who has lambasted his manifesto for being half-baked financially impractical and fundamentally flawed.
"I'm confident that I'm going to win, but I'm not taking it for granted, there's still a lot of work to be done," Cookson said.
Despite the great track rivalry between Australia and Britain, Cookson said the two countries enjoyed a good off-track relationship and he got on well with Australia's senior UCI official, Tracey Gaudry.
"I think she's an absolute benefit, a blessing to UCI," Cookson said.
"To have a senior experienced woman involved in the administration of the international body is a really good thing."
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