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Cycling governing body the UCI has defended overnight doping controls on riders at the Tour de France.
Tour leader Tadej Pogačar was tested at 5 am (0300 GMT) on Sunday before the gruelling 15th stage. Jonas Vingegaard - second at the time - received a visit from drugs testers even earlier at 2 am and later suffered a dramatic crash, meaning he had to quit the race.
There has been widespread criticism of the overnight controls, which according to French newspaper L'Equipe were possible due to a court ruling. It was the first application of provisions introduced into French law in 2015.
The independent International Testing Agency (ITA) carries out the controls on behalf of the UCI, but the governing body decided to issue a statement on Wednesday.
"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," it read.
"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."
Cycling was rocked by a series of high-profile doping scandals in last 30 years, with Lance Armstrong having his seven Tour titles stripped.
The sport has avoided major controversy in recent times and the UCI says it has to stay that way.
"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," it added.
"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."
Continue reading...
Tour leader Tadej Pogačar was tested at 5 am (0300 GMT) on Sunday before the gruelling 15th stage. Jonas Vingegaard - second at the time - received a visit from drugs testers even earlier at 2 am and later suffered a dramatic crash, meaning he had to quit the race.
There has been widespread criticism of the overnight controls, which according to French newspaper L'Equipe were possible due to a court ruling. It was the first application of provisions introduced into French law in 2015.
The independent International Testing Agency (ITA) carries out the controls on behalf of the UCI, but the governing body decided to issue a statement on Wednesday.
"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," it read.
"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."
Cycling was rocked by a series of high-profile doping scandals in last 30 years, with Lance Armstrong having his seven Tour titles stripped.
The sport has avoided major controversy in recent times and the UCI says it has to stay that way.
"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," it added.
"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."
Continue reading...
