Michael Brian Cookson[1] OBE is a road racing cyclist from Lancashire. He has been president of British Cycling since 1997, after becoming a member of an emergency committee to rescue it from insolvency in 1996.[2][3] 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[3] and honoured with an OBE in the Queens New Year Honours in 2008.[2][4] Cookson first became involved in the administration of the sport in the 1980s.[5]
Cookson made a statement following the doping scandals of the 2007 Tour de France, 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."[6][7]
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 within the next 25 years.[8]
Cookson was elected a member of the British Olympic Association's executive committee for a third term in October 2005, and again re-elected in November 2007.[9][10]