With the news of Brian Cookson being elected President of the UCI , there is NEW HOPE , that this institution MAY survive ! Congrats to Brian for turning the fracas in the Congress OFF , by calling for a VOTE , thus giving phat the CHANCE he did not deserve , nor was ALLOWED under the existing UCI Constitution , to be considered as a candidate on the ballot !
One report of the day's activities :
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/uci-congress-a-rare-look-into-cyclings-inner-workings
Acting in a Presidential manner , Brian was able to cause those who thought they were in the Italian Parliament Chamber , to resume their seats , after they had gone on the rampage because of a 21 v 21 vote on an earlier " inconsequential procedural matter "! Only phat the rat could have created the scenario where, contradicting the UCI Constitution ,for which he is PAID SALARY to uphold ! As a way to attempt to subvert that Constitution , he flew in Swiss Lawyers from Geneva ! When earlier phat sought advice , the matter appeared in the Media . The outcry was such that , even a 4yo child would realise that the advice was "tainted /slanted " , answering a NON EXISTENT QUESTION ! My previous post dealt with that matter , but then i am only a bystander with nothing to lose whichever way the matter was resolved ?
WHEN will the UCI Internal Auditors tally up the expenses generated by this " Geneva Lawyer Charade " and present the bill to phat ? Airfares , Travel expenses , Food & Accom , Entertaining Expenses as well as BILLABLE HOURS , ALL BELONG TO THE Originator ! WHY did the UCI Management Team allow phat the latitude to treat the UCI Coffers as a personal piggybank?
There are those at Aigle that joined UCI believing that their working career would be enhanced . There are so many others that left , some on a point of Principle , after they were threatened with their Work Contract being CHANGED , by the addition of " GAGGING ORDERS "! On top of all else , it appears there are those in the UCI Legal Dept that have stepped well past the line ! Many may recall the advices given the Thailand & Moroccan Feds. when they CLAIM to have introduced THEIR OWN IDEAS to be added to the UCI Constitution ? Retrospective Legislation to be added after the NOMINATION PROCESS had closed ? Yeah right , that is going to fly ? Which lunatic asylum , do they think they are working at ? Doubt they will wait for the inevitable DCM ? AS regards the rank & file , working at Aigle , doubt that they celebrated with water when they heard that phat the rat was given the " PACK YER BAGS " by the congress !
Now that we have the semblence of SANITY returning to Aigle , it was with delight , that i read of the Appointment of 3 Vice Presidents today , each from a different Continent , BUT , especially pleased that @gaudryt was appointed VP Cycling ! AS a former Cycle Racer , she is fully aware of the needs that Womens Racing has in the Current Climate ! My comment to Velonews , contains a few ideas that could assist her getting an effective result in very little time ?
UCI Constitution WAS implemented for the " Dark Ages " , it served the purpose for the likes of phat the rat & nein fordruggen , whilst news travelled by pony express . Now that we are in the INTERNET AGE , " News " travels faster than a speeding bullet , thus there are so many things , that need to CHANGE ! It comes as no surprise to anyone that " Lawyers " are sticking their nose into every facit of Sport , endeavouring to overturn ANYTHING that their clients feel likely to restrict freedom to BEND THE RULES "!
MY WISH LIST :
New Constitution .
Independent UCI Anti Doping Unit .
Reactivate the UCIIC .
Instituting a NEW Internal Audit Team .
Replacement of the entire UCI Legal Department , through their conivance at BENDING the UCI Constitution to fit the wishes of the departing President , who drew a Salary to PRESERVE that Constitution.
Reinstitution of the New Zealand Womens Tour in 2014 , cancelled in 2013 by " Meddling & Incompetent UCI decisons . Expsansion of the Womens Pro Tour Calender to bring back Races lost through the Incompetence of those involved in the period upto 2013 .
Invoice phat for the UCI Expenditures created by his decision to treat the UCI finances as his Personal piggybank for his nefarious activities .
Create an Advisory Board composed of Team Owners , Retired Racers & Current Racers , to SPEED the implementation of Reforms in the Cycling Programs for both Womens & Mens Road Racing & other disciplines . Additional input from Paralympian Athletes , both Present & Past Athletes and Organisers.
Recognition of those creating the environment to allow Change to occur .
Removal by the IOC of the Membership that was awarded to the former President , thus avoiding further threats of Blackmail to the Sport of Cycling . Was pleasantly surprised to read Monday that the IOC , had already acted !
http://www.insidethegames.biz/sports/summer/cycling/1016280-mcquaid-officially-removed-from-list-of-international-olympic-committee-members
Below are an expansion of my views on the bullet points above :
Personally i should like to see the UCI create a constitution that is presented in the New Year , perhaps in Advance of the 2014 Tour Down Under , thus those already headed to the event , will save UCI some hefty additional expenses . In that Constitution i would state that there be 4 Vice Presidents , with ONE being elected each year at Congress , thus in 2014 , we see an addition , sorry but in 2015 , one of the three appointed today will be seeking re election , and so forth . The Post of President in my version of the NEW Constitution can ONLY be filled by stepping up from the Vice President Position and will be ONLY for a fixed period of 4 Years , but allowing 2 extentions of 2 years , thus a maximum period in Presidential Office of 8 years . This will allow the BEST of the UCI Personnel to advance to the VP job but then have the " on the job training " necessary , even if for only one year ?
The New VP could be well employed , in running an " oversight " section , to assist the INDEPENDENT UCI ANTI DOPING UNIT ? When a Racer tests " positive " to a banned/prohibited product there should be NO DISPUTE . i want to see the 4 year Sanction that was discussed YEARS BACK ! This idea that it be changed in 2015 by WADA , is far too vague ! Having forgotten the Paralympians , it may well be that a VP-Paralympics may be required as a full time post ?
Watching today's news i see reports that University Students are utilising a " Prescription Drug " to improve their " Mental Capacities " in Study ! Yes , at Oxford , Academics claim that " Modafinol " helps them to meet their WorkLoad ? Whilst living in the Oxford Area i rode " Chaingang " with many in the University Cycling Club , who were competing in not only Uni Cycle Races , but National Competitions of Various Countries ! Ladies from the USA , guys from Germany , as well as various parts of the UK ! Was this "Doping Product ", on the WADA control list ?
From the above , you will see that WADA , has to oversee the various World Wide Countries ADA Programs ! There is a " catch all clause " in the WADA Code , that BANS " PEDs " , that they do not know of at the moment . It is a matter of universal knowledge that the " Blood Passport " has closed the RAMPANT DOPING , that previously existed . Nowadays the " micro dosing " , by Athletes in ALL SPORTS , appears to be the way to go . Regretably the likes of Mike Ashenden , have had to leave UCI due to the desire to impose " Banning of Info sharing " ! That appears to be a KIND way to describe what the Old UCI Management had attempted to do with the NEW Employment Contracts they imposed !
UCI Inspectors attempt to do a good job , but they only Administer the tests that their Superiors provide ! It is well known that the UCI Inspectors were not allowed to test for " EPO " at the Tour of Cal , in fact the whole Cycling World knew this fact , well before the Race started . What other PED products were they not allowed to test ? In setting up the Blood Passport , Anne Gripper , an Aussie , was involved ,she returned to Oz but one wonders IF she can be tempted to create the INDEPENDENT UCI ANTI DOPING UNIT that Brian Cookson has espoused ?
Since the UCIIC was shut down at the end of January 2013 , i have seen @tanni_gt refer to the doings of the UCI . She , together with her 2 Colleagues , decided to do the " Independent Job " , they were contracted for , irrespective of the " Golden Handcuffs " , that phat the rat and his lawyer buddies attempted to impose ! Having called off the UCIIC investigation , contrary to the wishes of the rest of the UCI Management Team , phat the rat , should be required to stump up the reported costs of CHF500k , take it out of his Retirement package , Brian !
Not being a UCI insider , i have no idea of the Accounting Principles that guide the Organisation . My experience of Accounting was with multi Nationals , where i was involved in constructing the future wishes of Management . Starting with Annual Budgets , they projected GROWTH over 5 & 10 year periods ! At the present , each September , Pro World Teams render Accounting Info to the UCI for the Next Season , together with other reports to justify their Status ! Last year we saw Katusha , the Russians , on the phat " sh#t list being told in one report they were GRANTED Pro World Status , then weeks later being told they were " Unethical " based on the same Documents ! Time the UCI started to THINK GROWTH , require the Pro World Teams to think FORWARD !
Jon Vaughters , that well known former Cycle Racer & professed " Doper "in the peloton , is OWNER of Garmin Team and studying the MBA , thus familiar with most of WHAT the UCI currently require . It would not be difficult for him to PROJECT an Annual Budget out to 5 or even 10 years ? Surely the other Teams are able to realise that " Living hand to mouth " is not an acceptable way to run ANY Business , let alone an Enterprise requiring upto 30 Racers and possibly as many support personnel ? Would ANY of their Sponsors be allowed to run their business in quite the same manner ? I doubt that many Pro World Teams would allow themselves to be fooled into taking Sponsorship from the neighbourhood Cycle Shop ?
In the run up to the UCI Presidential Election , there were many contributors to the phat's downfall ! He did most of the work , paid a " Media Savvy outfit " , recruited a fellow by the name of brown , who appears to be keeping the " Kimmage Funds " out of the reach of the rightful owners , bamboozelled the staff of UCI at Aigle into acting against the best interests of the Organisation and fell out of bed each morning without a clue as to how to best serve the interests of the UCI Stakeholders ! Even after asking the Stakeholders to complete a " Survey " he still carried on in a manner calculated to turn people , who would choose to support him , into disappointed people ? Contrast this with Brian Cookson , who went on a worldwide trip to LISTEN to the views of as many Cycling Feds as possible . Yes , it cost British Cycling money , BUT , they decided to invest in this , rather unlike phat's manner of RAIDING the UCI Coffers ?
With ALL of the players from a significant cross section of the Sporting World , came many Useful and Logical Ideas ! Jaimie Fuller as CEO of Skins has not only created " Change Cycling Now " , but , recently presented a document to the IOC , which in the fulness of time , will wake up the " OLD FOGIES CLUB " ! I think that Ben Johnson , 25 years later , has made a valid point about the extent that " Doping " has grown since he was ejected from the Olympic Games in 1988 ! Since the " Donati Report " , which detailed activities upto 2006 , significant events have occured , that have caused WADA to adjust their requirements for the period beginning 2015 ! Since the document has been distributed for " Consultation " , there is CERTAINTY that " Doping Fraudsters " are already hunting out the schemes that will assist their continuing FRAUDS !
CCN brought together Greg LeMond , retired race cyclist & Paul Kimmage , anti doping author , amongst many of the contributors . In seeking re election phat complied with the UCI Constitution initially , in that he sought the aid of the Irish Fed. . Luckily the AGM was deficient and thus @moran_anto , resigned and brought about an EGM , which rejected the Nomination . Over the years since departing the UCI , Mike Ashenden , has had cause to introduce expert commentary in respect of the UCI 's dealings in the " Anti Doping Field . When phat was first appointed to the UCI Presidency , it came about in a contest with Sylvia Schenke , regretably in losing , she found her UCI position untenable and resigned .
Already , i have Tweeted @cooksonforuci with the suggestion of an " Advisory Board " that could work through a huge amount of Ideas to present to Tracey Gaudry :
New UCI chief Brian Cookson names 3 VPs http://velonews.competitor.com/?p=304369 via @velonews Now he needs to ADD Advisory board with LeMond,Moran & Schenke!
@cooksonforuci Suggest Advisory Board including @GregLemond @jaimiefuller @moran_anto @Tanni_GT and a few current road racers for @gaudryt ?
In addition to these notables , i suggest several Womens Team Owners , such as Krysty Scrimageur , Rochelle Gilmour , Former Racers such as Sara Carrigan & Nicole Cooke and current racers such as Marianne Vos & Bridie O'donnell .
From the Mens Teams , i would think of Jon Vaughters & Sir David brailsford as Team Manager/Owners , Former Racers such as , don't laugh , Lance Armstrong & Jan Ulrich , current Racers such as Dave Martin & Simon Gerrans .
There would also be a need for MTB & CycloCross Racers to be represented , but i am unfamiliar with those Sports , thus disinclined to add comment .
In reading the Tweets of Colin Lynch , @TTworldchamp , i realised thast i was concentrating on the Olympic Side of the UCI to the exclusion of those in the Paralympic Side ! Apologies to those of the Paralympic movement for neglecting the EQUALITY they are DUE !
All of these people selected for an " Advisory Board " would be able to address their Ideas using Multi Media links rather than Formal face to face meetings . It would be of great benefit to Cycling Sport to have the " Stakeholders Report " re introduced for inspection , since phat seems to have chosen ONLY the parts that suited his purpose , to be made public at UCI Management Meetings ? I feel sure that the UCI would have demonstrated good sense in keeping record of " My responses "?
Truth & Reconciliation has become another point of consideration in recent days , that is why i included Lance & Jan in the ideas for an Advisory Board . In the past couple of years i have proposed a number of "Change.org Petitions " , each of them were ignored , but surely with a change of wording the terms i have suggested may have some relevance to what the UCI would wish to achieve ?
UNION of Cyclists International: SACK the Current President , p mc quaid & Honorary President h verbruggen
Office of the Governor General of Australia: Create the means for a " Sports amnesty " in Australia .
Wada: Create an " AMNESTY in ALL SPORTS "!
THERE is far more that could be added by those reading these musings ?
FEEL FREE TO COMMENT !
This is what i posted to Facebook , after reading the latest Velonews item :
" http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/09/news/new-uci-chief-brian-cookson-names-3-vps_304369
" GOOD Start ! Now add an Advisory Board that includes @GregLemond @jaimiefuller @moran_anto @Tanni_GT and a variety of CURRENT Racers from Road Race & Mtb , as well as retirees such as Nicole Cooke , Krysty Scrimageur and Rochelle Gilmour who are engaged in Team Management !
With @gaudryt's race experience and Admin Experience as the CEO of Amy Gillett Foundation , we will see Womens Cycling get a JUMP START !
NEEDED Urgently is the IMMEDIATE RESTART of the UCIIC , @tanni_gt will no doubt be excited to finish the work that phat the rat tried to stall !
Cookson needs to terminate the UCI Legal (dirty tricks inc) Dept on MONDAY ! If he installed Sylvia Schenk there would be an immediate boost in the transparency that the Sport needs !
Anna Gripper needs to be installed as the Head of the NEW INDEPENDENT ANTI DOPING UNIT , with her previous expertise , she will be able to call on the resources and experience of Mike Ashenden to IMPROVE Testing Procedures and wipe the SMUG FACETIOUS Attitudes of current DOPING RACERS ! YES , they are still there " micro dosing " there way onto the podium !
Monday Cookson needs to discover WHICH DRAWER , that phat the rat used to hide the UNPUBLISHED SANCTIONS from the 100th Le Tour ( you know , the only one they had NO RACER keen to increase their career options ) and of course the recent AMAZING VUELTA !
My Comment to INRNG : http://inrng.com/2013/09/brian-cookson-uci-president/#comment-84783
Having stumbled across the finish line , Cookson will have to ACT Resolutely to clean up the mess that phat the rat will lay at his feet , we can expect a huge pile of grief to flow from today’s event !
When a lawyer is flown in from Geneva , at UCI Expense , it is clear that the UCI Administration is in need of NEW GUIDELINES ! From today , a new ETHICS Committee is needed and a NEW SET OF INTERNAL AUDITORS ! Should ANY of the expenditures over the past 12 months prove to be ethical within the UCI Constitution , then THAT CONSTITUTION needs to be REWRITTEN ! Since when has Cycling had to pay for INCOMPETENCE & CRONYISM ? Even employing fraudsters is not part of the UCI Mandate ! Should that turkey , that created the Kimmage Fund , have been employed/paid by the UCI then those responsible shouls be getting a DCM !
With most Major News Networks broadcasting up until Midday about this Election , there will be Media Scrutiny as never before . Cookson CANNOT do all expected of HIM , but he can DELEGATE and ascertain that as many of his Campaign Promises are introduced expeditiously !
One thing i would like to see , is Cookson create the basis for ALL Teams to put together 5 year & 10 year Budgets ! Surely even HE will recognise the need for ALL in the SPORT to be able to follow a plan ? If individual Athletes prepare for their NEXT Olympics as they finish the current Events , then surely the Sport can do likewise ?
Doubt that Dame TanniGrey would refuse to join the other UCIIC members in beginning work on the long overdue Commission ?
People need to realise that @jaimiefuller & @moran_anto are responsible for our good fortune , without their tenacity , we would still be seeing phat the rat , sharpening his knives , as he prepared to enter a new era of diminishing the future of CYCLING SPORT ! What a shame phat was not an ethical japanese noble ? No doubt in the rear future , we will see him behaving with even more futility as he scrabbles for a semblence of dignity in the mire he has created ?
Copy of a section of Podium Cafe :
http://www.podiumcafe.com/2013/9/27/4777116/good-riddance
http://www.podiumcafe.com/2013/9/27/4777116/good-riddance
POSITIVE MEMORIES
Cycling is pretty healthy right now. And I hear 1941 was a good year for Chianti. Not all related items are actually caused by one another.
NEGATIVE MEMORIES
- Skirted the anti-apartheid boycott by racing in South Africa under an assumed name. Got caught and was banned from 1976 Olympics.
- Got ushered into the UCI presidency by Hein Verbruggen, that paragon of virtue.
- Took on the organizers of the grand tours, particularly Amaury Sports Organization, during the creation of the Pro Tour, over the issue of granting Pro Tour teams automatic invitations. Got his clock cleaned.
- Took on Dick Pound of the WADA, because it was time to stand up to the doping controllers.
- Ushered Lance Armstrong out the door after his confession, a few months before reports emerged of his efforts in helping conceal Armstrong's past positive tests.
- Sued journalist and ex-cyclist Paul Kimmage for being right about everything.
This is the short list. Feel free to add to it, or not.
Another newspaper's perspective on Cookson's election :
http://t.co/1a9cUgTel4 Irish Examiner !
http://t.co/1a9cUgTel4 Irish Examiner !
More comments already in play , will be added later !