(ATR) Brian Cookson plans to stand for a second term as head of cycling’s governing body in 2017.
The 64-year-old confirmed his intentions at the annual congress of the European Cycling Union (UEC) in Loulé, Portugal on Sunday.
Cookson, who succeeded Pat McQuaid in September 2013, praised the work carried out in the fight against doping in his speech to delegates, claiming that cycling had "regained its credibility" since he took over.
"He informed member national federations that he intended to apply for another and final mandate of four years as president of the Union Cycliste Internationale," a UEC statement said.
The congress was attended by 37 out of Europe’s 50 member federations.
Plans for the 2018 European Sports Championships that will bring together seven sports – athletics, rowing, cycling, golf, gymnastic, aquatics and triathlon – were presented to the federations for the first time. The four Olympic cycling disciplines of road, track, BMX and mountain biking will take place in Glasgow from Aug. 1 to 12 in 2018.
The congress also unanimously agreed to reforms of the UEC’s constitution aimed at modernizing the confederation.
The fight against mechanical doping was also discussed. The UEC and the international cycling federation "both affirmed their commitment to do everything in their power to fight effectively against this new form of cheating", said the statement.
European cycling’s governing body gave a presentation on mechanical doping which "detailed the actions undertaken to increase checks and their effectiveness". This will be sent to the UCI.
Following a question from an Estonian delegate, UEC president, David Lappartient, proposed to provide each member federation with the same detection methods as those used by the UCI, saying it would be funded with the UEC’s Solidarity Fund.
Lappartient also announced that he would be putting forward his candidature to continue as UEC president.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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