Jean-Rene Bernaudeau, team manager of Team Total Energy, called on the UCI to ban ketones and put an end to the debate over their risks and benefits. Bernaudeau believes that a clear stance on the use of ketones would enhance the credibility of professional cycling.

Ketones first appeared more than a decade ago at the 2012 London Olympics, where Britain's experimental use of the dietary supplement is credited with boosting medal counts, including in cycling.

In 2019, Jumbo Visma admitted to using ketones and several other teams began doing the same. However, members of the MPCC Clean Cycling Movement, which includes eight World Tour and 15 professional teams, ruled that their members could not use ketones, causing a split in the peloton.

Many riders, including Romain Bardet, Thibaut Pinot, and Guillaume Martin, have called for ketones to be banned, while others defend them and believe they are effective, despite the lack of clear medical evidence.

The UCI issued a "notice of deprecation" in 2021, calling on athletes and teams not to use ketones, but did not go so far as to ban their use. Wada also chose not to ban the use of ketones, despite questions about their long-term use and side effects.

"Ketones are a gray area in cycling. It is not good for the credibility and attractiveness of our sport," Bernaudeau told Cyclingnews at the TotalEnergies training camp in Spain.

"Everyone knows that ketones are used by some teams, but no one really knows. It's ironic. Teams that say they are taking ketones are falsely claiming that ketones do not improve performance. So why take ketones?

The UCI has announced that it is investigating the effects of ketones, but the final report, which was to be published in 2023, has been postponed several times UCI medical director Professor Xavier Bigard told L'Equipe that banning ketones is "complicated" He admits that it is "complicated.

Bernadeau wants the UCI to be more proactive regarding supplements.

"The UCI is not functioning as a governing body," said Bernaudeau, and suggested that "the UCI should follow the MPCC recommendations."

"The MPCC lobbied the UCI to ban tramadol. Now is the perfect time to settle the ketones case."

"The UCI should follow the MPCC's recommendation and ban tramadol.

Bernodeau believes that banning ketones would avoid potential long-term health risks and improve the image of pro cycling in the eyes of sponsors.

"I meet quite a few CEOs of very important Asian companies who are concerned about ketones, and they are strict about rules, ethics, and transparency," said Bernodeau.

"Cycling has the potential to be the number one sport in the world, but it lacks a true global sponsor," Bernodeau added, noting that despite Jumbo Visma winning three Grand Tours in 2023, Richard Prag has had a He emphasized the difficulty he had in finding a new sponsor.

"It's a shame they can't find a big sponsor. I have nothing against them. I just want the biggest teams to have the biggest sponsors."

Bernodeau said he feels "lucky" to have one of the wealthiest title sponsors in the peloton, even though his team does not have the best budget.

Total ranks 21st in the world in the Fortune Global 500's sales rankings, with 2022 sales of $263.3 billion and more than 100,000 employees in 130 countries.

The Total Energies team competes at the professional team level and relies on wildcard invitations to the Tour de France and other major races.

"Total Energies entered cycling in 2019 when it acquired my former sponsor Direct Energy," Bernaudeau explained.

"I feel a great responsibility towards them. The management committee is very sensitive to ethical issues, and it's great to have a sponsor with strong values."

As after the 1998 Festina doping scandal and the confirmed widespread use of EPO in professional cycling, Bernaudeau believes that "it is time for sponsors to play a role in clean cycling."

"They have the power to tell team managers and riders to stop using ketones," Bernaudeau said.