Changes Cookson has implemented at UCI

[Benotti69]

If Cookson was anti doping he would start the process of retesting samples for newly developed tests.

Cookson talked the talk, he has yet to walk the walk.

 

[King Boonen]

Make the teams pay for it. All the big teams do internal testing anyway

With what money? It's not like cycling is currently overflowing with sponsors and cash. I doubt they are internally testing for PEDs, they are probably just doing standard blood work which is very different and requires completely different equipment.

I dont give a fig about the cost. The cost can be found if it was wanted. It is not wanted so people ***** about the cost. Want to clean up the sport, find the money make anti doping independent and properly funded and the sponsors will come flooding back as it will show other sports anti doping efforts to be pathetic...

The sport would probably be dead as a profession if it was forced before any sponsors flooded in. Sponsors don't put money in sports that they like, they want returns. Money can be found but it takes time and needs to be done properly to spread the costs. Demanding it's done in a few months is, frankly, ridiculous.

That you put clear rain capes on the same level of anti doping shows how little you understand the damage doping has done to cycling.

Cookson said independent anti doping was a priority. He said the credibilty needed to restored. Rain capes will restore credibility!

Don't put words in my mouth. At no point have I said they are on the same level. I said they are as much his business, just like the rest of cycling is. They were easily implemented, will satisfy sponsors who see their logos disappear during wet stages and make viewing easier.

Ridiculous hyperbole is the main problem with discussions in the clinic, feel free to cut it out when responding to me or just ignore my posts.

 

[Benotti69]

With what money? It's not like cycling is currently overflowing with sponsors and cash. I doubt they are internally testing for PEDs, they are probably just doing standard blood work which is very different and requires completely different equipment.

I actually believe internal testing by teams is for the same stuff Anti doping test for as teams continue to keep their riders within BP parameters and the levels the PEDS take to go through riders systems etc.....

The sport would probably be dead as a profession if it was forced before any sponsors flooded in. Sponsors don't put money in sports that they like, they want returns. Money can be found but it takes time and needs to be done properly to spread the costs. Demanding it's done in a few months is, frankly, ridiculous.

Verbruggen made himself a very very rich man out of cycling. The money is there.

Armstrong made himself 120+million dollars in 7 years and you say there is no money in the sport.

If Cookson cleaned up the sport the sponsors would come flooding in.

Don't put words in my mouth. At no point have I said they are on the same level. I said they are as much his business, just like the rest of cycling is. They were easily implemented, will satisfy sponsors who see their logos disappear during wet stages and make viewing easier.

If teams wore their team sponsored capes then their would be no problem. That teams in the 21st century are wearing inadequate clothing for certain weather scenarios shows how inept the sport is.

Ridiculous hyperbole is the main problem with discussions in the clinic, feel free to cut it out when responding to me or just ignore my posts.

It aint hyperbole. Cookson has placed the issue of rain capes above the doping problem. The race cape issue took a minute to decide. Camera's on bikes another couple of hours, the guy has been in the job 10 months.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Where's the money?

It's not a money problem. Let WADA open cases on any test authority's tests. The results are all there. No federation would ever allow that, but it is actually that simple.

Per Benotti's post, money leaks out of pro cycling like a sieve and falls into high-ranking administrator pockets. Let's give credit where it is due, Hein did a great job monetizing the sport.

 

[doperhopper]

benny I think you're wrong people wish to see 'who won' just as much ( if not more ) than 'who doped'

Mark L

especially if the history tells us there's no big difference

 

[Beech Mtn]

Cookson on his son's role at Team Sky, Zorzoli and Froome's TUE

A lot of people are working hard behind the scenes to do some good work in Germany, that includes the Federation and some race promoters, people are working to put teams together too. I had a meeting in Germany yesterday. I can’t reveal any details but the picture is beginning to turn because of the problems of that era. Germany is the biggest economy in Europe and if we're not in Germany as a sport, we're going to suffer. I think we can get back in and the signs are there. As long as we keep our act together and don’t descend into the problems of the past, I'm optimistic that cycling can be strong again there and in other countries.”

Cookson clearly means doping when he talks about 'the problems of the past’.

"We've changed our internal process so that the Cycling Anti-Doping is now completely independent so that me nor anybody can say 'test them or don’t test them.' We still have responsibility as an international Federation for anti-doping but as long as I'm the president of the UCI, I'll run our process with integrity."

"There was a TUE Committee but it was only being used for exceptional cases. This was an entirely routine case and Dr Zorzoli approved it, as WADA confirmed two days later," he said justifying why Zorzoli was able to fast-track Froome's TUE during the Tour de Romandie.

"We've looked at how we canmake that process stronger. We've got a TUE committee and we will now use that Committee more. We'll use it for every TUE case. That may slow the process what's more important? An individual rider or the integrity of an entire sport? Frankly in my view, it's the integrity and reputation of the entire sport."

The UCI has so far refused to provide Cyclingnews with any number of how many TUEs it issues to each team and how many it issues during a specific season. However Cookson backed UCI doctor Mario Zorzoli despite his two-decade history in the sport and lack of controls on how he issued TUE to riders and teams.

"There are issues of medical confidentiality but I think it is something to look and so perhaps publish some number at the end of the year if the WADA approves that," Cookson said.

Mario has been involved in the sharp end of providing expert medical and anti-doping advice to the UCI for a number of years. In that time there have been a number of controversial cases. But I have confidence in his integrity and expertise. I'm aware of wild accusations made on the internet and elsewhere. And if anyone has some evidence of something that is incorrect, then give it the CIRC, the independent Cycling Reform Commission, give it WADA, give it UK Anti-Doping, give it to the AFLD in France, Don’t make bizarre accusations. Let's see put up or shut up."

 

[Benotti69]

Cookson on his son's role at Team Sky, Zorzoli and Froome's TUE

No straight talking. A carefully worded piece, not what the sport needs and if that is the mentality, Cookson is another continuiation of what went before, quelle surprise.......

 

[sniper]

from beech mtn's link

Germany is the biggest economy in Europe and if we're not in Germany as a sport, we're going to suffer. I think we can get back in and the signs are there.

don't expect any german positive in the coming years.

keep our act together and don’t descend into the problems of the past

sensible way of saying let's not throw any big fish under the bus.

Don’t make bizarre accusations. Let's see put up or shut up."

great reminder of how UCI responded when Floyd blew the whistle.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Brian Cookson OBE @BrianCooksonUCI · 38m
@**** what strange and sad people there are around. So brave on their keyboards. Get a life my friend, get a life

 

[DirtyWorks]

"We've changed our internal process so that the Cycling Anti-Doping is now completely independent so that me nor anybody can say 'test them or don’t test them.'

Mission accomplished. Anti-doping is independent. High-fives all around. The cleaning crew at the UCI has more interesting job than some people who can test anyone they like and nothing ever comes of it.

New committe employed by the UCI is now capable of
generating doping controversy independently of the UCI. That sounds like a great way to keep your job at the UCI.

We still have responsibility as an international Federation for anti-doping but as long as I'm the president of the UCI, I'll run our process with integrity."

Oh, wait, the UCI can continue to hide positives as needed. Ok. Back to work.

Still, I love the way he's keeping the myth alive that the UCI doesn't hide positives.

He's working the business side pretty hard. You have to wonder if Pat and Hein could ever get a meeting in Germany after The Kaiser. The UCI has the same problem in (I'm assuming) the Netherlands and Belkin/Blanco. Not the same size economy though.

 

[zigmeister]

Not sure where you got that quote Beech MTN, the last paragraph, but the wording, although slightly different, gives a bit of a different tone from another interview he did.

""It was in accordance with regulations," Briton Cookson said of his compatriot's TUE use.

"The TUE was issued, as WADA (World Anti-doping Agency) confirmed a couple of days later, entirely correctly. It was not put before the committee because it was a regular matter.

"The TUE committee for the UCI was only being used for cases of a complex or potentially controversial nature, but what I've said since that came to light is maybe they're all of a controversial nature and maybe we then need to look at continuous improvements of our processes.

"Let's put all of our TUE requests before a panel of our TUE experts, and that's what were going to do in future."

Although Froome's use was within the rules, it did bring up the question of why such a short term request to use a banned substance can actually be made.

"It's exactly because of those sort of questions that we did need to strengthen our processes and that's why we've said from now on we won't just have one doctor doing that," said Cookson."

Still a bit unnerving and still rattles the confidence of the usual skeptics that this easy method to get a TUE has always been around. And what I think is worse, how team Sky/Froome run around saying, "hey, it was within the rules" knowing darn well there are performance enhancing benefits to this stuff...yet toeing, and going over the line of ethics IMO to use this flawed process.

 

[mrhender]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features...feed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=features

"Cookson has always insisted that the time of 'emperor' management, of a president dominating the way the sport is run, is over. He is in favor of diplomacy, discussions and even some transparency for how the UCI governs the sport, for how it handles its anti-doping and even Therapeutic Use Exemptions for medicines."

Hit the nail on the head here..
Some and even are not really that comforting.. If the TUE case wasn't leaked then what? Would he still do the same thing beeing gracious with some transparacy?

"to make the sport's financial cake bigger than ever. He seems to want to keep everyone happy."

This.... If the goal is to keep everyone happy and make more money then it in itself becomes an obstacle for change.. A change that BC himself says is much needed..
Problem is, Cookson never had the ambition to be a transition figure..
If the UCI needs house cleaning everyone knows that the guy dooing it will not last because the actions needed to take place will create to much trouble for the president to keep his job afterwards.. This is very normal in bussiness where we see a lot af house cleaners getting replaced after the deed is done..

"Equally there will always be people who try and cheat in life and they will probably never disappear. What we showed is that we will not sweep them under the carpet and will deal with them properly. Sometimes they take a long period of time but people should understand we will deal with things properly."

This is just so vague and too easy to say..
When and how did you show that?
And what does properly mean? Oh yes like the transparency your now gooing to offer in TUE cases because someone blew a whistle??

"We've changed our internal process so that the Cycling Anti-Doping is now completely independent so that me nor anybody can say 'test them or don’t test them.' We still have responsibility as an international Federation for anti-doping but as long as I'm the president of the UCI, I'll run our process with integrity."

What did you change, why not any specifics.. This is again just too easy..
How can he not understand that the scepticism is deeply rooted and that these "headline" remarks is just an insult.... Oh wait, this is under the "some transparency" umbrella.. Sorry Cookson -That dog won't hunt

"There are issues of medical confidentiality but I think it is something to look and so perhaps publish some number at the end of the year if the WADA approves that," Cookson said.

Now he tries to blame WADA and uses the excuse of confidentiality..
If he really wanted to do this he would find a way in a proactive manner and his focus would be how can I do this without breaching the so called conf..... Instead he's making excuses and dodging the ball..
And again the "some" part is just laghable in the sense of inconcrete, pushing the problem forward by making some admirable promises of future actions.. Beeing very much the Cookson way of doing things...

This guy is just as trustworthy as a fox in a hen-house...

 

[DirtyWorks]

"Cookson has always insisted that the time of 'emperor' management, of a president dominating the way the sport is run, is over. He is in favor of diplomacy, discussions and even some transparency for how the UCI governs the sport,

As long as the transparency brings more money, it's good transparency.

"to make the sport's financial cake bigger than ever. He seems to want to keep everyone happy."

My limited exposure reading comments about McQuaid was he was a terrible diplomat.

Again, the focus on revenue and reforms related to creating more revenue is his primary focus. Let's be fair to the guy he at least looks like he's trying to promote the Women's side of the sport and even ordinary use of bicycles. But, core issues regarding corruption in governance remain untouched.

 

[mrhender]

As long as the transparency brings more money, it's good transparency.



My limited exposure reading comments about McQuaid was he was a terrible diplomat.

Again, the focus on revenue and reforms related to creating more revenue is his primary focus. Let's be fair to the guy he at least looks like he's trying to promote the Women's side of the sport and even ordinary use of bicycles. But, core issues regarding corruption in governance remain untouched.

He was foul choice from the get go....

Cycling needed a transition figure to do house cleaning for a year or two and to leave the good stuff (developing cycling as a global sport, including new countries, women etc.) for someone with the abilities that Cookson clearly has.. But based on the new structure that the house cleaner established of course...

 

[DirtyWorks]

He was foul choice from the get go....
Cycling needed a transition figure to do house cleaning for a year or two

Remember, the UCI is a federation of national federations. The national federations aren't particularly interested in resorting things, just bringing in more money.

The second issue is, let's imagine Cookson actually brought some transparency and good governance to the federation, it creates pressure to reform other IOC sport federations.

 

[mrhender]

Remember, the UCI is a federation of national federations. The national federations aren't particularly interested in resorting things, just bringing in more money.

The second issue is, let's imagine Cookson actually brought some transparency and good governance to the federation, it creates pressure to reform other IOC sport federations.

Doesn't change much regarding my point of what i meant cycling needed..

But yes, with the rapidly expansion of the sport (GB,China) even more problems follow/expands (turning the blind eye to basic issues is just too atractive)

EDIT: Your second point
Given the track record of cycling I think a lot good can happen on that front without anyone blinking an eye as to other sports..
Real pressure will emerge from official/publicly known scandals on a more frequent basis..
All IMO

 

[DirtyWorks]

I could have put this in any number of threads.

Oleg Tinkoff interview is fun.

http://www.bloomberg.com/video/we-w...ercialized-tinkov-uYYZTryWRTG~x8i6fbxO5g.html

No doping scandals == No doping.

More interesting than that is references to making the sport more like F1. Which, is run by an autocrat.

What an entertaining character.

 

[Benotti69]

Remember, the UCI is a federation of national federations. The national federations aren't particularly interested in resorting things, just bringing in more money.

The second issue is, let's imagine Cookson actually brought some transparency and good governance to the federation, it creates pressure to reform other IOC sport federations.

Other sporting federation are extremely happy that cycling has a bad name for doping. They dont want cycling to clean up because then cycling will point to all the other sports who are dirty because they dont test enough, dont ban the dirty doctors and dirty coaches etc etc etc

In IOC, cycling is a small fish.

 

[oldcrank]

The UCI's recent changes to the scoring method, the order
of events and the points races distances in the Omnium
should make for an even more exciting event for fans
at the velodromes or at home watching on the telly.

Also, I like the changes to the team pursuit qualifying
and competition rounds that will allow teams that
qualify in 5th to 8th positions a second chance at
a (bronze) medal. Very good for the continued
mondialisation of our sport.

 

[mrhender]

Other sporting federation are extremely happy that cycling has a bad name for doping. They dont want cycling to clean up because then cycling will point to all the other sports who are dirty because they dont test enough, dont ban the dirty doctors and dirty coaches etc etc etc

In IOC, cycling is a small fish.

+ Cycling is still a medium size sport worldwide..
Easy for (for example Greman tv-stations to ban)

Do they do the same with the World Cup in the still unfolding World Cup scandal (Qatar)
No they do not, too much money on stake, so they stick to criticising/demonising cycling..

If we were so lucky that cycling became 95% clean, Cycling would still be considered the most dirty and immoral sport..

Why? Because too big players/interests/money are at stake...

Even though This is no secret to anyone -Everytime someone points out that cycling is the most tested sport, they get pointed out as beeing suspicious and prrobably cheating..

I have no illusions as to cycling beeing nowhere clean..
But the selective hypocrisy shown around the all-sport community is just laughable/if not to cry over..

It's like an evil circle where change is just not possible..
Better to seem clean/not corrupt than beeing so..

Depressing really..

 

[Freddythefrog]

The UCI's recent changes to the scoring method, the order
of events and the points races distances in the Omnium
..............
.......... for the continued
mondialisation of our sport.

Anybody would think Oldcrank is sat at the top table at the UCI, with all these "hot off the press" snippets he shares with us.

 

[Dear Wiggo]

Anybody would think Oldcrank is sat at the top table at the UCI, with all these "hot off the press" snippets he shares with us.

I was almost thinking he was Cookson - that airport itinerary seemed incredibly detailed.

 

[thehog]

Or, "What Cookson did".

For starters, Verbiest out. It's a good start.

UCI Lawyer Verbiest Out
http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/10/news/longtime-legal-counsel-out-at-uci_304928

Added (Courtesy Race Radio):
Vice President Changes
Replacing a group of yes men, Hee Wook Cho, Renato Di Rocco, and Artur Lopes with three new vice presidents; David Lappartient from France, president of the European Cycling Union; Mohamed Azzam, from Egypt, president of the African confederation; and Tracey Gaudry, president of the Oceania confederation.

Added:
Cookson drops UCI charges against Kimmage.
http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...n-is-ending-UCI-legal-action-against-him.aspx

Added (Courtesy JRanton):
Director General Changes


Added (Courtesy Race Radio):
Discussions with WADA regarding UCI Conduct


Commitment to time frame of handing over anti-doping controls to independent body (Dated 11/10/2013)


Link: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...ent-investigation-into-UCI.aspx#ixzz2hPxN3Sio

Changes?

Banning press releases. Hiding doping positives in boring reports posted to website.

 

[RedheadDane]

There's one proposed rule I don't get/like. The only 22 riders on WT teams (from 2017).

Uhm... the teams are expected to be in contention (or at least participate) in all the WT races, running from January to October. Wouldn't that be somewhat difficult with only 22 riders, of whom a significant number - towards the end of the seaon - might be injuried and/or simply tired.

Not to mention that there'll be a large ammount of riders who risk being without contract.

 

[Netserk]

As this is the de facto official Cookson thread:

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...doping-commission-cycling-tour-de-france-2014

The UCI president, Brian Cookson, has called upon Alexandr Vinokourov and Bjarne Riis, the heads of the two most prominent teams in this year’s Tour de France, to testify before the independent commission on cycling’s doping history as a way of helping the sport move on from its past.

(...)

“I would like both of them to come to the commission,” Cookson told the Guardian at the Tour de France finish in Paris. “The commission doesn’t have powers of subpoena, but there is a court of public opinion here which is really important; those two people and others as well need to bear that in mind if they want to continue to operate in our world, opinion in the world of cycling would be much more favourable towards them if they came forward.”

EDIT: I see it has been posted in the other Cookson thread. Hmmm.