Pat McQuaid's UCI Re-Election Campaign Dealt Heavy Blow By National Federations

Int'l Cycling Union President Pat McQuaid’s "attempt to cling onto power as president of world cycling was dealt a heavy blow" when five national federations asked sport’s highest court "to rule on whether the Irishman should be allowed even to stand for re-election" on Sept. 27, according to Josh Burrows of the LONDON TIMES. McQuaid "failed to secure a presidential nomination from his own Irish federation or from Switzerland." He revealed that he had "instead been offered the backing of the Moroccan and Thai federations." The timing of that announcement and the legality of being nominated without the backing of his own countrymen "have both been questioned and may now be subject to a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport." In an open letter, USA Cycling President Steve Johnson suggested McQuaid’s two nominations are illegitimate “machinations” under the UCI constitution. The federations of Russia, Canada, Finland and Algeria "have joined Johnson in requesting a CAS ruling" (LONDON TIMES, 9/2).