Brian Cookson: Long-awaited report on doping will be “uncomfortable reading”

UCI president Brian Cookson says that the cycling world faces some “uncomfortable reading” when the Cycling Independent Reform Commission (CIRC) publishes its report into doping in the sport.

The report from the three-member panel set up by Cookson last year as part of his pledge to overhaul the sport when he replaced Pat McQuaid in September 2013, could be released in the coming week.

Cookson said: "When you open a can of worms, you find a lot of worms."

He warned: "There'll be a lot of uncomfortable reading. I think we should all prepare ourselves for that."

Mindful of criticism of world football’s governing body, FIFA, over the recent report into the awarding of the 2018 World Cup to Qatar, the UCI president insisted there would be no editing of the CIRC’s report.

"We will publish the report that is given to us by CIRC, absolutely," he said. “If they want to redact anything, they can redact it.

“They may well give us some unredacted information as well, but the report that they give us will be the report that they say is able to go into the public domain.

“We're not going to get into a Fifa-type situation of arguing about the report – what should and shouldn't be redacted, edited, put in a confidential annexe, or whatever. It's going to be interesting.”

Witnesses have been able to provide evidence under condition of anonymity, although it is known that among those to have given evidence is Lance Armstrong, banned from sport for life in 2012.

The American has claimed that he was made a “scapegoat” for doping within cycling, and also questioned Cookson’s record since he assumed the presidency of the UCI.

However, Cookson countered: "I don't get too worried about what Lance Armstrong might or might not say about me. He's entitled to his opinion.

“I know that Lance has talked to the commission because his lawyers announced it and he himself said it.

“Lance Armstrong always has an agenda and I don't want to say any more until we see what he's said to the commission."

As to what the contents of the report may be, Cookson said: “I don't think there's going to be a lot of new revelations, because I think mostly we've got a pretty good idea of what was happening and how widespread the problems were.

He added: “I don't think there's any other sport that has opened itself up in this way, to this level of scrutiny on this particular aspect.

“It's something I committed to, I'm proud that we've done it. I think it's going to be uncomfortable for our sport, but I think it's going to be a good lesson that other sports can learn from as well."