Cycling inquiry terms to be announced

New UCI president Brian Cookson has pledged the sport's reform commission will be completely independent.

Cycling's world governing body are days away from announcing the specific terms of reference for their much-anticipated reform commission.

New UCI President Brian Cookson also pledged on Wednesday that the Cycling Independent Reform Commission would be completely impartial.

Former President Pat McQuaid, who lost a bitter election campaign to Cookson last September, said last week that he wants to see the terms of reference before he decides whether to cooperate with the commission.

It also remains unclear whether disgraced cycling star Lance Armstrong, whose high-profile doping demise led to Cookson taking over, will take part.

"We are finally agreeing on the terms which we can operate under the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) code and it's important we get that right," Cookson told AAP.

"We hope to make the final announcement about that in the next few days.

"I won't be interfering with it, my management committee won't be interfering with it and we will give it independence and impartiality.

"If it wants to look at things beyond and outside what we've asked it to, then of course you can do that.

"Anyone who wants to come and talk to it will be invited in due course by the commission itself - not by me or the UCI.

"If will be genuinely independent and impartial."

The three-man commission includes former Australian army officer Peter Nicholson, who has advised the Afghan government.

Cycling's sordid doping history means there is much expectation about the commission and Cookson wants it's report by the end of the year.

While cycling insists it is much cleaner now, it continues to deal with new cases.

Veteran Australian cyclist Mick Rogers and Belgian rider Jonathan Breyne tested positive to clenbuterol late last year.

Rogers' B-sample is pending, but he is adamant he will fight the case and has blamed the positive result on tainted meat that he ate while racing in China.

"I don't want to comment on an individual case - I don't that's right and proper when something is up and running like that," Cookson said.

"WADA I know is aware of clenbuterol as an issue (with) certain countries ... so we'll wait and see what they have to say on that.

Cookson arrived in Adelaide on Tuesday night as a guest of the Tour Down Under.

There have been widespread changes at the UCI since he took charge, including the appointment of Australian Tracey Gaudry as a vice-president.

"Things are going really well I think - most of the things we've put in place seem to have been well received and it's always a challenge," he said.

"We're doing the right thing, we've got a really good group of people together now for the independent commission that is going to review the history, the problems of doping in cycling and the allegations against the UCI.

"It's really important we get that up and running.

"We have three new vice-presidents, including Tracey ... an ex-pro rider herself.

"That's really helped us to take women's cycling more seriously and to develop a women's commission."


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Source: AAP


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