Movement For Credible Cycling (MPCC), an organization of teams, riders, races, and sponsors working together to oppose doping in professional cycling, has asked the UCI to combat "doping mafia protocols" that take place outside the normal team structure In order to combat this, the MPCC requested that blood tests be conducted closer to the start and finish of the race.
The MPCC suspects that athletes are somehow evading detection by giving blood transfusions in the morning and taking blood samples immediately after the race.
The MPCC also urged the UCI to do more out-of-competition blood testing when athletes are away from the race and may be taking blood out for future transfusions. They also called for testing of plastics in blood samples for potential transfusions and for investigating the use of the supposedly banned performance-enhancing substance AICAR (an experimental drug) powder in drinks at the end of stages.
The MPCC explained on its website that the request for better blood testing stemmed from information provided by banned rider Georg Preidler; the MPCC said that Preidler had recently been arrested by Team Sunweb, which he belonged to as a professional rider, and Groupama- FDJ directors, Ivan Spekenbrink and Marc Madiot, and that they had discussed the matter at length.
Preidler confessed to doping in March, shortly after the Adelrath operation became public, claiming to the Kronen Zeitung that he had drained the blood but did not put it back. However, he apparently revealed important details of his latest doping technique to the MPCC, which said that his testimony "caused great concern among MPCC members."
The MPCC's request follows nine months of revelations by Operation Aderlass, the Austrian-German investigation that uncovered the blood doping ring.
Authorities first raided the Nordic Ski World Championships and caught Austrian Max Haucke performing blood transfusions before the race. Other skiers were also taken into custody, and police continue to investigate the work of German doctor Mark Schimdt, who worked for the Gerolsteiner and Milram teams more than a decade ago.
Several cyclists were implicated in Operation Adelas, and Stefan Denifle, an Austrian like Pridler, soon confessed. In recent months, the UCI has suspended Danilo Hondo, Alessandro Petacchi, Kristijan Koren, Borut Bozic, and Kristijan Dulasek for their involvement in Operation Adelas.
The MPCC letter was sent by President Roger LeGay to UCI President David LaPartient, and included the MPCC, AG2R, Beulah Hansgrohe, Dimension Data, EF Education First, Groupama-FDJ, Lot Soudal, Team Sunweb's seven World Tour teams, 20 professional continental teams, and numerous athletes, staff, and sponsors are members.
The UCI and the independent Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation (CADF), funded by the UCI, provide standard post-race and out-of-competition blood and urine tests, a biological passport to manage fluctuations in blood levels, and an athlete's They use a variety of anti-doping techniques, including expert information gathering to understand.
Lessons have also been learned from the busting of doping rings, such as the USADA investigation that led to the arrests of Dr. Michele Ferrari, Johan Bruyneel, and Lance Armstrong. However, medical studies have shown that athletes can perform trace blood transfusions without their biological passports raising red flags. Even if the biological passport detects some blood manipulation, it is very difficult to win an anti-doping conviction, which could lead to an expensive court battle against the athlete.
MPCC's letter is dated October 17, and UCI President David Lapartiento's reply is dated November 5. In his reply to the MPCC, President Lapartiento emphasizes the activities of the CADF.
Lapartiento clarified that the CADF conducted 5,307 blood tests in 2017 and 5,585 in 2018 as part of the biological passport program and that eligible tests were prioritized. He also said that it depends on whether the CADF's budget is increased.
La Partiente noted that in addition to testing at the team hotel on the morning of the race, the CADF conducts testing close to the start of the race. He referred to an article in Cycling News in which a rider from Jumbo Visma was tested 45 minutes before the start of stage 18 of the Tour de France. He also noted that UCI anti-doping rules allow testing anywhere, anytime, and that the CADF tests athletes out of competition. Lapartien did not disclose how many out-of-competition tests the CADF conducts each year or where these tests are conducted.
He confirmed that they test blood samples for traces of phthalate plastic and revealed that the CADF "investigates not only the use of AICAR, but also the use of other substances that may be prevalent within the peloton."
The MPCC acknowledged La Partient's response and information, but stated that "MPCC members are concerned about the issue of fair play in sport in the largest bicycle race in which they participate worldwide. They want cheaters to worry about what the fight against doping will do to them."
The MPCC's response to the MPCC's response was that "the MPCC is not a party to the race, but a party to the fight against doping.
In his letter to the MPCC, Rujay concludes: "This fight [against doping] will only be more effective if it feeds on all the facts and information provided to those who lead it.
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