UCI president Pat McQuaid nominated by Cycling Ireland

Pat McQuaid has secured the nomination of Cycling Ireland as he seeks a third term as president of the International Cycling Union (UCI).

The UCI under McQuaid has been heavily criticised for its handling of doping scandals in recent years, most notably that featuring former seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.

McQuaid, who has been in the post since 2006, resisted calls for him to resign, and says his candidacy is based on a record of "combating the scourge of doping in cycling".

Cycling Ireland's support came with conditions, including limiting presidents to two four-year terms.

"I have set an ambitious agenda to continue developing the sport and to ensure that it remains at the forefront of the fight against doping in sport," said Irishman McQuaid, 63.

The presidency of the UCI will be decided at the UCI World Congress in September.

The UCI stripped Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles, won in successive years from 1999 to 2005, in October 2012 after Usada published a 1,000-page report into what it called "the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen".

After Tyler Hamilton and Floyd Landis testified against their former team-mate to the United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada), McQuaid called the pair "scumbags", while Hamilton called on McQuaid to step down.

Three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond called for McQuaid to resign following accusations that the UCI covered up a positive test from Armstrong for the banned blood booster EPO at the 2001 Tour de Suisse.

American LeMond said in December that he would be willing to run for the UCI presidency.