Shane Sutton has received strong endorsement from world cycling boss Brian Cookson as the controversial coach awaits the decision on a key Australian role.
Sutton is known to be on the shortlist for Cycling Australia's high-performance manager position.
It is understood he is one of two final candidates, with the appointment likely to be made in the next few weeks.
While no one doubts his credentials, the circumstances surrounding the end of his time at British Cycling means Sutton would split opinion if he was appointed.
He resigned before the Rio Olympics amid allegations of sexism and inappropriate comments about para cyclists.
But Cookson also noted Sutton has plenty of support.
"Perhaps a number of people didn't find his approach agreeable, but many people did, and the proof of the pudding is in the number of medals he won," said Cookson, in Adelaide for the Tour Down Under.
"If you look around, if you look at some the negative things people have said, there are a number of people who have said positive things about him.
"I have a great respect for him. It (the Cycling Australia role) is not a matter for me, but Shane is a man whom I have a great amount of respect for."
The Australian-born former cyclist was a key figure in British Cycling's spectacular rise over the last two decades.
His brother Gary coaches the Australian women's track endurance squad.
But sprinter Jess Varnish accused Shane Sutton of using sexist and discriminatory language.
Varnish alleged when she missed out on the British Rio Olympics squad, Sutton told her to have a baby.
Sutton, who is well-known for not mincing his words, was also alleged to have called para cyclists gimps and wobblies.
As the controversy grew, Sutton resigned from his technical director role well before the Rio Games.
But British cycling legend Victoria Pendleton, one of his biggest critics, said Sutton continued to have an important role behind the scenes as their track team again dominated at the Olympics.
A British Cycling internal investigation last month upheld only one of nine charges against Sutton, that he used the word "bitches".
