McQuaid rules out doping amnesty, intends to run for another term

McQuaid was speaking a day after the International Cycling Union (UCI) adopted a motion at its annual Congress to focus on the anti-doping effort in order to provide a clean environment for the next generations of riders.

The Irishman said, however, that it would not be setting up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission at which riders could admit to their doping pasts in order to clean up the sport for the future.

"The UCI Steering Committee discussed the possibility of an operation similar to what South Africa knew at the end of apartheid with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission," said McQuaid.

"The conclusion was that it would first be inappropriate to take any action while the USADA/Armstrong affair is underway and, in addition, the Global Code does not provide for any amnesty.

"We're not at all in the same situation as in South Africa and the idea was abandoned."

McQuaid said the UCI was still awaiting a report from the US Anti-Doping Agency into the alleged doping record of American Lance Armstrong, whom the USADA has branded a drug cheat.

USADA said last month that Armstrong would be banned for life and his results since 1998, including seven Tour de France titles won from 1999-2005, would be expunged due to "numerous" alleged violations.

McQuaid said that after receiving the final USADA verdict the UCI would have 21 days to make a decision.

"Except if the examination of the documents should reveal an important problem, the UCI has no intention of appealing (before the Court of Arbitration for Sport) but we need to check," he said.

McQuaid, who has been the UCI chief since 2005, also announced his candidacy for a new four-year term with the fight against doping his priority, despite calls from some of change with increased allegations of corruption during the mid to late 1990s and the early 2000s.

McQuaid's predecessor Hein Verbruggen has been vilified and criticised for being complicit in the conspiracy and corruption and the links between the two are reason enough according to some for a changing of the guard.

McQuaid, however, is adamant the organisation is on the right track, and flatly denied any sort of cover up or corruption at UCI headquarters in Aigle, Switzerland.

"The UCI has nothing to be apologetic about," he said. "The UCI has always been the international federation that does the most against doping.

"A real doping culture existed which we are in the process of stamping out but we need time.

"That doesn't mean we ignore the past or that we're trying to hide it. We are trying to fosus on the future however."