Pat McQuaid: UCI president nominated for new term by Swiss

Pat McQuaid's attempt to gain a further term as president of cycling's world governing body has been boosted after he was nominated by Swiss Cycling.

The Irishman was originally nominated for another term as UCI president by Cycling Ireland only for the Irish body to then opt to reconsider its decision.

This will happen at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) next month.

However, McQuaid now lives in Switzerland, which enables the Swiss body to nominate him for the role.

In addition, the UCI - also known as the International Cycling Union - is based in Switzerland.

Under McQuaid, the UCI has been heavily criticised since details of systematic doping by disgraced former Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong emerged.

McQuaid initially received a nomination from his own country as he pledged to overhaul the world body.

But Cycling Ireland then said last month that the matter would be looked at again.

A statement from the Irish governing body last month read: "Cycling Ireland at a meeting of its board on 26 April decided to convene an EGM to consider matters which have arisen following the decision taken at its board meeting on 12 April to nominate Mr Pat McQuaid to stand for the position of UCI president."

Former Cycling Ireland vice-chairman Anthony Moran resigned from the board of the Irish governing body after it nominated McQuaid for a further UCI term.

There have also been reports that there may be some unhappiness within Irish grassroots cycling about McQuaid's nomination.

In a statement on Thursday, McQuaid spoke of his "delight that the board of Swiss Cycling has endorsed my nomination".

"I put myself forward to serve another term as UCI president on my record of developing the sport throughout the world and on combating the scourge of doping in cycling," added McQuaid.

"I look forward to presenting myself for election with the support of Swiss Cycling and other federations worldwide.

"I took up residency in Switzerland in 2005 when I assumed the role of UCI president and I have had a long association with Swiss Cycling.

"It has become clear that my nomination in Ireland has been politicised by a small group of people.

"However, I have received a wealth of letters from national federations all around the world urging me to stand for president again."

The UCI stripped Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles, won in successive years from 1999 to 2005, in October 2012 after the United States Anti-Doping Agency (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 Usada, McQuaid called the pair "scumbags", while Hamilton called on the Irishman 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.