Pat McQuaid has told Cyclingnews that he met with the Cycling Independent Reform Commission (CIRC) on three separate occasions in 2014 and that he has nothing to hide regarding allegations of covered-up doping tests and misconduct at the UCI while he was president from 2005 to 2013.
However, the Irishman has revealed to Cyclingnews that he signed a personal contract with Igor Makarov – the head of the Russian Cycling Federation – in 2012, while still at the head of the UCI. The contract was in relation to a potential World Championships bid from Makarov’s home country of Turkmenistan, and McQuaid, who claims he was considering not standing in the UCI presidential election of 2013, admits that he signed a contract before realizing that it was a potential conflict of interest. McQuaid had previously, before becoming UCI President, acted as a consultant for the 2004 Worlds in Verona, Italy.
“During 2012, as a result of the Lance Armstrong affair and other significant work-related pressures, I strongly considered not standing for re-election as UCI President in 2013,” McQuaid told Cyclingnews.
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“During this period, following a number of discussions about the development of cycling in Eastern Europe, Igor Makarov, a fellow UCI Management Committee member, offered me a contract for the future development of cycling in his homeland, Turkmenistan, including the preparation of a bid to bring the UCI Road World Championships there in 2017. I agreed to this contract in July 2012.
“Four months later, however, in October 2012, following a very successful Olympic and Paralympic Games for cycling in London, I reconsidered my position about standing for re-election to the UCI Presidency and so, because of a possible conflict of interest, I informed Mr Makarov that I did not wish to proceed with the contract. I should stress that at no point did I carry out any work relating to this contract, nor did I ever receive any payment relating to this contract.”
McQuaid and Makarov’s relationship soured when the UCI’s Independent License Commission deemed that the Katusha team – run by Makarov – should have their WorldTour License revoked for the 2013 season on ethical grounds. The decision was later overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) but Makarov’s backing of McQuaid’s presidency was over from that moment.
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