UCI doping passport

AFP report: At least one top cyclist is to face doping charges after thousands of blood samples were analysed as part of the International Cycling Union's blood passport programme, the UCI said Friday.

UCI President Pat McQuaid - Pic Balibouse/Reuters

The UCI did not reveal the identity of the cyclist concerned, but said he is one of 23 riders who "warranted further scrutiny" following 2172 tests on blood samples as part of their far-reaching passport scheme.

Introduced as the UCI's new weapon in the fight against doping, the aim of the scheme is to catch cheats, and ultimately deter doping by relying on previously recorded data from athletes' blood samples.

The UCI believes that because of the comparative increase in the number of tests and the introduction of individually tailored, and more effective, profiles, most riders are now thinking twice about doping. Proof of that may not be seen until the end of this year's Tour de France, where the lure of international fame and glory has traditionally tempted many riders to cheat.

The UCI said Friday, May 2 that of the 2172 tests carried out to April 30, only 23 had warranted further scutiny by anti-doping experts.

And it reassured organisers of the Giro d'Italia by adding that "all riders set to compete in the Giro have adhered to the blood passport scheme".

As well as the one professional road rider whose abnormal sample is expected to lead to doping sanctions, the UCI said that four others riders from cycling's various disciplines were in the same situation. In the wake of numerous doping scandals which have brought the sport to its knees, the UCI appears to have cranked up the fight against the drugs cheats.

Several scandals at last year's Tour, and the doping speculation surrounding Denmark's race leader Michael Rasmussen - who it was revealed missed a series of doping tests - have also forced race organisers to act.
Tour chiefs have this year banned the Astana team of reigning champion Alberto Contador due to their involvement in doping affairs at last year's race. The Spaniard was not part of Astana in 2007.

The UCI also hopes it can play its part in keeping scandals to a minimum.

Ahead of the Giro, the first big three-week Tour of the season, the UCI said it had carried out an average of four tests on each rider of a Pro Tour team, and two tests on each rider belonging to teams ranked below Pro Tour.

The UCI said that two teams initially not part of the blood passport scheme, LPR - the team of Giro champion Danilo Di Luca - and NGC, have been integrated into the scheme.

The UCI qualify the passport scheme as an "efficient deterrent", but admitted they would not be naive when it came to potential drugs cheats at the Giro d'Italia.

"We can never be 100 percent sure that a rider isn't doping. We can't control the decisions taken by riders before and during a race," the UCI said.

"But we can certainly influence their decisions by conducting an effective anti-doping programme. Riders will be completely deterred from doping when they feel that the risks of being detected and banned exceed the potential benefits of using doping methods and substances."

On Friday the UCI announced that nine top anti-doping experts, hailing from Australia, Italy, Germany, France and Sweden, would be given the job of analysing all the blood profiles submitted by hundreds of professional riders.

Five of those experts are part of the World Anti-Doping Agency's working group on blood parameters. Ironically WADA withdrew their support of the passport scheme following a dispute which escalated last month.

The UCI Statement in full
Biological passport: The UCI presents the experts who will interpret the riders’ profiles

At a press conference organized today at the World Cycling Centre, the International Cycling Union (UCI) revealed the names of the independent experts who will analyse the profiles of the riders participating in the biological passport programme.

Present at the press conference were the UCI President Pat McQuaid, the UCI staff in charge of anti-doping, the experts who participated in the validation of the scientific model on which the biological passport is based, members of the independent group of experts (Mr Olaf Schumacher and Mr Pierluigi Fiorella), and representatives of teams participating in the Tour de Romandie.

The group of experts is made up of the members listed below. All of them have published numerous reference articles in their fields.

Michael Ashenden (Australia), Project coordinator, Science and Industry Against Blood Doping Research Consortium, on the Gold Coast, in Australia, and member of the World Anti-Doping Agency working group on blood parameters.

Michel Audran (France), Professor, biophysical and bioanalysis laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Montpellier I, France. Professor Audran is also a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency working group on blood parameters.

Bo Berglund (Sweden), Professor, departments of medicine and of chemistry at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, and member of the medical and anti-doping committee of the International Canoe Federation. Professor Berglund is also a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency working group on blood parameters. In addition, he is chief physician of the Swedish Olympic Committee.

Giuseppe D’Onofrio (Italy), Professor of haematology and Director of the transfusion department at the Policlinic A. Gemelli in Rome. He is also a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency working group on blood parameters.

Pierluigi Fiorella (Italy), sports doctor, cardiologist, Director of the Olympus Medical Centre in Ravenna, member of the scientific and technical commission of the Italian Athletics Federatoin, member of the health protection commission of the Italian Cycling Federation and consultant for FC Inter-Milan.

Giuseppe Fischetto (Italy), specialist in sports medicine, internal medicine and pneumology. He is Head of the emergency department at the Frascati-Marino Hospital in Rome, member of the medical and anti-doping commission of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) and Head of the medical department of the Italian Athletic Federation. He is also a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency working group on blood parameters.

Olivier Hermine (France), Professor, service of adults haematology and service of infectious and tropical diseases at Necker Hospital in Paris. Professor Hermine is also haematology consultant for the French Cycling Federation.

Robin Parisotto (Australia) is an independent research scientist. He worked of many years with the Australian Sports Institute.

Olaf Schumacher (Germany), works in the department of sports medicine at the University of Freiburg, in Germany. He is a member of the UCI Security and Safety Conditions Commission and is currently chief physician of the German Cycling Federation.

During the conference, M.N. Robinson, from the Laboratoire Suisse d’Analyse du Dopage, in Lausanne, set out the scientific model on which the biological passport is based. M. O. Schumacher gave a demonstration of the analytical work that the independent experts will carry out on the profiles.

Ms A. Gripper, Manager of the UCI Anti-doping Service, gave an overview of the tests carried out within the biological passport programme. These continue according to the established schedule. As of 30th April, 2’172 tests had been carried out.

Ms Gripper then clarified that the classic anti-doping tests were still being carried out alongside the biological passport programme.

She finally recalled that all riders who will take part in the Giro d’Italia on the 10th May will have been tested under the biological passport.