International Council of Arbitration for Sport president to select panel to investigate International Cycling Union John Coates, the ICAS president and chairman of the Australian Olympic Council, has been confirmed as the man who will select the three-man Independent Commission to investigate allegations against the UCI regarding the Lance Armstrong affair and the running of cycling by its governing body in general. Coates has agreed to select the panel which will be chaired by a senior lawyer of international standing and also consist of a forensic accountant to look into allegations of illegal payments by Armstrong and a senior sports administrator. All three will be free of any cycling connections. The UCI are understood to have started contacting Coates' nominees and intend to announce the panel as soon as possible with original time-frame from the UCI Management Board meeting on Oct 26 suggesting that the Commission members be confirmed by the end of this week. Coates and his nominees will also decide the final terms of reference for the commission. "We would like to thank John Coates for his recommendations, which we will follow to the letter," said UCI president Pat McQuaid this morning. The purpose of this independent commission is to look into the findings of the USADA report and ultimately to make conclusions and recommendations that will enable the UCI to restore confidence in the sport of cycling and in the UCI as its governing body. Cycling is one of the world's most popular sports, both for participants and spectators and it has a bright future. Those who will define that future can be found among the current generation of riders who have chosen to prove that you can compete and win clean.