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McQuaid previously failed to receive backing from Cycling Ireland. Tim Ireland/PA Wire/Press Association Images
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Swiss federation withdraws nomination for McQuaid

Jamie Fuller told Newstalk’s Off the Ball that the organisation had “seen the light”.

THE SWISS FEDERATION has withdrawn its nomination for Pat McQuaid’s UCI re-election bid, it has tonight been confirmed.

Speaking to Newstalk’s Off the Ball, CEO of Skins sportswear, Jamie Fuller, explained that he had been bankrolling three disillusioned members of the Swiss Cycling who were unhappy at the organisation’s decision to back McQuaid and were prepared to help bring the decision to a hearing.

“Swiss cycling didn’t want it to go through a hearing,” Fuller said, adding that the organisation had eventually “seen the light”.

He described how there was “a degree of financial motivation” in their performing of a u-turn on the previous decision, and that both Fuller’s group and the Swiss Federation would have been required to pay a total of 100,000 francs (81,215 euros) for the case to go ahead.

“We committed to pay half. Swiss cycling refused to pay their half,” he said.

Fuller’s group eventually agreed to put up the 100,000 francs, at which point the Swiss Federation made the decision to withdraw their nomination.

“If this had gone to a hearing [and they lost] – not only would they be liable for 100,000 francs, they’d also be liable for our legal costs,” Fuller explained.

McQuaid had previously insisted that his nomination from the Swiss Federation was secure but now only has a joint nomination from the Thai and Moroccan federations, which the British Federation claim came too late in the process to be considered valid.

However, earlier today McQuaid told reporters that international legal firm Baker & McKenzie say he is entitled to compete against Brian Cookson for the UCI presidency.

Asked if he felt there was still any chance that McQuaid will still compete in the election, Fuller said that “there might be,” claiming “he’s going to try and brazen it out,” and adding that “he shouldn’t be there”.

Fuller said that cycling needed “the right leadership” to “eradicate doping”.

“That’s never going to happen when you’ve got the old guard there,” he added.

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