GENEVA — Russian cycling leader Igor Makarov wants International Cycling Union President Pat McQuaid to face an ethics investigation over written comments made during an increasingly testy leadership contest.
Makarov responded Friday to an email McQuaid sent to UCI member countries this week questioning the integrity of British official Brian Cookson’s bid for the presidency.
A statement provided by his personal office to the Associated Press expressed Makarov’s hope that the “UCI Ethics Committee will consider reviewing Mr. McQuaid’s actions and the nature of his letter.”
“Using the name of Mr. Igor Makarov … in relations to UCI presidential race is unethical,” the statement said.
McQuaid had suggested Cookson was “a pawn in a larger game” influenced by Makarov, who is the main backer of the Russian team Katusha which has clashed with UCI authorities.
All three men are colleagues on the UCI management board, which meets later this month in Bergen, Norway.
The election is scheduled in September during the UCI’s annual assembly being held in Florence, Italy, on the sidelines of the road world championships.
McQuaid’s letter, which was leaked by cycling officials, also described Cookson’s decision to run as “odd.”
The Irish official cited previous comments from Cookson supporting his embattled presidency during fallout from the damaging Lance Armstrong doping case.
On Tuesday, Cookson cited the importance of restoring the credibility of the UCI and professional cycling as a key theme at his campaign launch in London.
Makarov’s statement said the challenge to McQuaid was not odd but offered a democratic principle of freedom of choice.
“Mr. Cookson has utilized his right, nothing more,” the Russian cycling federation president said.