UCI president Brian Cookson has come a big step close to fulfilling a key part of his election manifesto after having reached an agreement with WADA over the broad terms under which the UCI will conduct a Commission of Inquiry into the historical doping problems in cycling. While no details have been released, the investigation is set to thoroughly investigate whether the international federation has colluded to cover up past doping offences.

When Brian Cookson decided to run for president of the UCI, he released an election manifesto that had a thorough investigation into cycling's dark past as one of its key elements. Two months after taking over the position from his predecessor Pat McQuaid, he has taken the first important step towards fulfilling his promose.

On the occasion of the World Conference on Doping in Sport, Cookson had a private meeting with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) president John Fahey. The two parties agreed the broad principles under which the UCI will conduct a Commission of Inquiry into the historical doping problems in cycling.

They further agreed that their respective colleagues would co-operate to finalize the detailed terms and conditions of the Inquiry to ensure that the procedures and ultimate outcomes would be in line with the fundamental rules and principles of the World Anti-Doping Code but didn't reveal any details about the outcome of their discussions.

The investigation will replace the three-member independent commission that was set up in late 2012 but which was quickly dissolved due to disagreements between the main parties. This time, the UCI and WADA have been working more closely together and both Presidents pledged that their organization would work harmoniously to help the sport of cycling move forward in the vanguard of clean sports.

One main obstacle in the investigation is to find out how to handle confessing riders. An amnesty has been proposed but is against the WADA code. There is no doubt that this topic has been a key part of the discussions between the two presidents.

Lance Armstrong has made it clear that he is ready to be a part of the investigation and Cookson has confirmed that the American will be asked to contribute. However, both Cookson and Fahey have made it clear that a reduction of his life ban is in the hands of the United States Anti-Doping Agency which issued the sanction.