Brian Cookson - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Michael Brian Cookson OBE

Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...

is a road racing cyclist from Lancashire

Lancashire

Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...

. He has been president of British Cycling

British Cycling

British Cycling is the national governing body for cycle racing in Great Britain. It administers most competitive cycling in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man...

since 1997, after becoming a member of an emergency committee to rescue it from insolvency in 1996. He has been credited for turning the sport around since taking on his unpaid role as president. He was awarded the gold badge of honour by British Cycling in December 2006 and honoured with an OBE

Order of the British Empire

in the Queens New Year Honours in 2008. Cookson first became involved in the administration of the sport in the 1980s.

Cookson made a statement following the doping scandals of the 2007 Tour de France

2007 Tour de France

The 2007 Tour de France, the 94th running of the race, took place from 7 July to 29 July 2007. The Tour began with a prologue in London, and ended with the traditional finish in Paris. Along the way, the route also passed through Belgium and Spain...

, urging the organisers not to give up the fight for a clean sport. He also said that "At British Cycling, we have always taken a very strong anti-doping stance throughout all our structures, from the elite Podium level, right the way through to our coaching and development programmes for youngsters."

Cookson is working to develop the sport from grass roots to the top. He said in 2006 that a British cyclist could win the Tour de France

Tour de France

The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...

within the next 25 years.

Cookson was elected a member of the British Olympic Association

British Olympic Association

The British Olympic Association is the national Olympic committee for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It was formed in 1905 in the House of Commons, and at that time consisted of seven national governing body members from the following sports: fencing, life-saving, cycling, skating, rowing,...

's executive committee for a third term in October 2005, and again re-elected in November 2007.

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