The ITA is ready to deliver a robust anti-doping program for the 2023 Tour de France
THE INTERNATIONAL TESTING AGENCY (ITA), LEADING THE CYCLING CLEAN SPORT EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNION CYCLISTE INTERNATIONALE (UCI), IS PREPARED TO PROTECT FAIR PLAY AT THE TOUR DE FRANCE THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE ANTI-DOPING PROGRAM. AFTER ALREADY ENSURING A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD AT THE GIRO D’ITALIA IN MAY, THE ITA IS COLLABORATING WITH ALL INVOLVED STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING THE FRENCH AUTHORITIES, TO PROTECT CLEAN SPORT AT ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS CYCLING EVENTS.
It is the third time that the ITA will independently lead the clean sport program for the Tour de France since the delegation of cycling’s anti-doping activities by the UCI. The ITA is in charge of the overall clean sport strategy for the French Grand Tour, including the definition of an intelligence-led testing plan. This plan is applied on the basis of a bespoke risk assessment that takes into account a weighed variety of relevant factors whilst constantly adapting to current circumstances or new information through permanent monitoring. The testing plan also considers any relevant information received through the monitoring of the athletes’ Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) and any insights gathered by the ITA’s Intelligence & Investigations department.
All doping controls at the Tour de France will be targeted and performed anytime over the course of the three-week race, not only at the finish line. At every stage, the yellow jersey and stage winner will be tested. Additionally, all athletes will already be tested before the start of the event as part of their medical monitoring. At the end of the race, the ITA will make a selection of samples that will be kept for potential re-analysis over the next 10 years.
Doping controls will mainly be conducted by the ITA’s own Doping Control Officer (DCO) force with in-depth cycling experience. For the roll-out of the anti-doping program, the ITA collaborates with the French National Anti-Doping Organisation (AFLD), who will offer support with their doping control personnel. The ITA is also in close contact with other relevant French and international actors, for example with authorities at different sectoral levels, for support and information-exchange.
Furthermore, 2023 marks the first year of increased resources to foster fairer cycling. The UCI, UCI WorldTeams, UCI ProTeams, UCI WorldTour organisers, and men’s Professional Road Cyclists have decided to strengthen the ITA’s capacity to protect the integrity of the sport with a gradual 35% budget increase until the end of 2024. This funding primarily supports areas such as Intelligence & Investigations (I&I), testing, science, data analysis, long-term sample storage, and sample re-analysis.
“We are looking forward to delivering the anti-doping program for this major cycling race for the third time under the responsibility of the ITA and in collaboration with our partners to ensure a level playing field during the event,” said ITA Director General Benjamin Cohen. “As the testing operations for this event are already at a vigorous level, the additional resources stemming from the decision of the cycling stakeholders to further protect the sport from doping will allow us to step up in other relevant areas of the clean sport program for the Tour de France and throughout the year. Most notably, it allows us to invest more in intelligence and investigations, an area that has proven to be very effective and complementary to the testing regime. We are steadfast in our commitment to ensure a clean and fair competition environment for all participants in this highly anticipated event.”
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