|
His decision comes after a difficult year for the
organization that saw technical director Shane Sutton quit in
April after allegations of sexist and discriminatory remarks.
British Cycling has also been dragged into the controversy
surrounding Team Sky's use of Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs),
including for former Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins.
The organization also said this month it was "cooperating fully"
with UK Anti-Doping who were investigating allegations of
"wrongdoing within cycling".
Drake, who has been involved with British Cycling for 20 years,
the last eight as chief executive, confirmed that he will be
leaving but not as a result of the ongoing controversies.
"Some time ago I made the decision that the Rio Games would be
my last as CEO of British Cycling," Drake, who took charge in
2009, said in a statement.
"Now, following the success of our Olympic and Paralympic teams
at those Games, the launch of our innovative new partnership
with HSBC UK and Yorkshire's successful bid to host the 2019
Road World Championships, I believe that the end of this Olympic
cycle is the natural moment for a new CEO to take the
organization forward into the Tokyo Games and beyond.
"So it has been a difficult year but my decision to move on is
completely separate to that (the allegations). It's just the
time is right," he added.
The British Cycling board will begin the search for a new chief
executive.
"Ian has been a pivotal figure in it all," Howden said in a
statement on British Cycling's website
(www.britishcycling.org.uk).
"It is also testament to his commitment to the organization that
he has chosen to announce this now so that we have time to
conduct a comprehensive search for his successor."
There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Team Sky, Wiggins or
British Cycling and they have received support from UCI
president Brian Cookson.
But the furor, including a claim by former Team Sky rider
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke that he was offered the controversial
painkiller Tramadol when competing at the road world
championships four years ago, threatens to tarnish the
reputation of British Cycling.
During Drake's reign Britain has grown into a cycling powerhouse
and amateur participation has spiked massively.
Britain has won 20 of the 30 gold medals up for grabs in cycling
at the past three Olympics.
Wiggins became Britain's first Tour de France winner in 2012 and
compatriot Chris Froome has won it three times since.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; additional reporting by Shravanth
Vijayakumar; Editing by Ian Ransom/Sudipto Ganguly)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
