Just a few days before the UCI presidential elections at the World Championships in Madrid, the conflict that has been opposing the former president of the German cycling federation and current member of the UCI Management Committee, Sylvia Schenk, and the President of the International Cycling Union, Hein Verbruggen, has been taken to another level.
While the decisions regarding Schenk's complaints about president-elect Pat McQuaid's relationship with the UCI have been rejected by both the UCI Board of Appeal and the UCI Ethics Commission, the UCI, its President and Pat McQuaid have decided to instigate legal proceedings against her for defamation.
In an official statement dated Friday, September 16, the UCI explained its point of view on "repeated, and apparently systematically organised, attacks" coming from "a small number of ill-intentioned individuals who are conducting a genuine campaign to destabilise the UCI."
Sylvia Schenk, in return, is ready to continue her complaints while "refraining from any defamatory attacks against persons" and "take all possible measures against [the recent decisions], especially ask the IOC Ethics Commission for a decision," which she announced in a press release dated Saturday, September 17.
Cyclingnews coverage of the UCI elections
September 24 - Spain's perspective on UCI election result
September 24 - Darshan Singh retires
September 23 - A wonderful moment for McQuaid
September 23 - McQuaid wins UCI presidential election
September 22 - IOC rejects complaints; Election to go ahead as planned
September 21 - World's opens, Spanish federation explains
September 20 - UCI committee exits Madrid
September 18 - Conflict between Schenk and UCI goes on
September 15 - Moreno not a Grand Tour stooge
September 8 - Baguet explains, Singh files third complaint
September 6 - McQuaid still UCI choice
September 3 - Verbruggen candidate for UCI presidency again
August 31 - Verbruggen nominated for UCI president
August 25 - UCI Ethics Commission meets
August 17 - Darshan Singh protests against UCI elections
Interview with Pat McQuaid: Next in line? Part II
Interview with Sylvia Schenk: Continuing her quest for Law & Order. Part II
August 6 - Moreno aims for presidency role
July 31 - UCI attacks Sylvia Schenk
Interview with Pat McQuaid: ProTour & Phonak, New teams & the UCI succession. Part II
