Cycling’s governing body has defended night-time testing of riders at the Tour de France, saying that “the fight against doping is an absolute priority”.
In a statement released on Wednesday afternoon, a spokesperson for the UCI said that the organisation acknowledges the disruptive nature of the tests, but that this “exceptional measure” serves the “overriding interest” of tackling doping.
Visma-Lease a Bike’s Jonas Vingegaard and race leader Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates-XRG were woken up at 2am and 5am respectively on Sunday morning, ahead of stage 15, by doping control officers from the International Testing Agency (ITA) and made to provide a sample.
Cycling Weekly has also reported that riders from five teams, including Pogačar and Vingegaard, have received unannounced anti-doping tests between 11pm and 6am, which require authorisation from a judge. It is understood that at least one rider was tested at 5am during the first week of the race, meaning that Pogačar and Vingegaard were not the first riders to be subjected to a test in the early hours. Separately, on Monday’s second rest day, blood samples were taken from all the riders left at the Tour by the ITA.
The ITA’s night-time testing at this Tour has been described as “strange” by Pogačar, “inhuman” by Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and criticised by many, including the riders’ union, the CPA.
Earlier this week, Jonathan Vaughters, the manager of EF Education-EasyPost, defended the tests, describing them as “very effective” in detecting micro-dosing.
Tests between the hours of 11pm and 6am are prohibited, except in exceptional circumstances, when the ITA has to request permission from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and a judge.
The UCI spokesperson said: “Following a number of reactions in recent days to unannounced anti-doping controls carried out by the International Testing Agency (ITA) during the Tour de France – in particular following the statement issued by the association of professional riders (CPA) – the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) wishes to respond and to reaffirm that the fight against doping is an absolute priority.
“The UCI of course acknowledges that night-time testing can disrupt riders’ rest and recovery, and wishes to reiterate that carrying out such controls outside normal hours remains an exceptional measure, reserved for limited and justified circumstances. While fully aware of how onerous such a measure is for riders, the UCI nevertheless underscores that these controls serve an overriding interest: the fight against doping.
“In 2021, the UCI entrusted the ITA with the management of its anti-doping programme – including the planning and execution of controls – in order to guarantee its independence and maximise its effectiveness. With this in mind, the UCI fully supports the ITA’s use of every means at its disposal to carry out its mission as effectively as possible, in compliance, naturally, with the World Anti-Doping Code of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), UCI Regulations, and legislation applicable in each country for the conduct of controls (as in the present case, with the approval of the competent judge) and/or the gathering of intelligence.”
“The UCI considers it essential that all stakeholders unite and support the anti-doping programme in place in cycling, which is now recognised by the relevant sporting authorities as a benchmark in this field,” the spokesperson continued.
“The requirement for independence, rigour and effectiveness in its anti-doping programme comes at a cost to cycling, one borne collectively by all of its stakeholders: every year, more than €10 million is invested in the collection, analysis and re-analysis of samples, as well as in intelligence-gathering, across events falling within the UCI’s regulatory remit, including the Tour de France. This investment reflects the UCI’s determination to protect riders who respect the rules, and to relentlessly pursue the reinforcement of its arsenal against those who cheat.
“The UCI will continue to support the ITA in carrying out its mission, in full and complete respect for its independence, in the service of a cleaner and more credible sport of cycling.”
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