Investigation will be independent of the UCI’s efforts
In a statement released today the International Cycling Union (UCI) has revealed that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has opened an independent investigation to help determine the source of the leak that led to the publication of a sensitive internal working document produced by the UCI in French newspaper L’Équipe last week.
“The UCI deplores and strongly condemns the breach of confidentiality which allowed this list to be sent to the press,” it said in a statement just after the news broke. “A leak of this kind is highly irresponsible and unacceptable. The UCI will consult WADA in order to launch an in-depth investigation of the matter.”
The UCi went on to explain that prior to every major Tour, blood tests are performed on each of the riders who take part. After the tests are performed, the data is compared to the riders’ biological passports to create what it terms a ‘testing plan’, which is what it uses to determine priorities for testing, frequencies and what tests will be performed.
It warned that the list and indexing of the riders needs to be taken in context. “It is essential to note that the list published by L’Équipe, entitled “Index of suspicion”, is liable to be interpreted in an incorrect and prejudicial manner,” the UCI stated previously. “It contains only an initial summary assessment of the results of the analyses for the sole purpose of establishing an order of priorities for testing and therefore cannot under any circumstances prejudge the possible guilt of the persons whose names appear on the list.
“Whatever the assessment of the appropriateness of testing a specific rider, the list does not justify any suspicion or condemnation.”
Several high-profile riders showed an unfavorable index on the list based on the UCI’s criteria, which has created a public relations problem for both the riders with “suspect” indexes on the list as well as the sport’s governing body.
Now the WADA has officially joined in the effort based on today’s statement released by the UCI. It confirmed that WADA Director General David Howman informed his Executive Committee and Foundation Board at a meeting in Montreal that the agency would give its full support to the UCI.