Cortisol Level Tests on Paris-Nice
4 member teams subjected 25 riders to cortisol level tests on Paris-Nice. All the riders have been allowed to start.
On Paris-Nice, 4 member teams registered for the race submitted 25 riders to cortisol level tests as part of their commitment to the Movement for a Credible Cycling (MPCC):
These voluntary tests have been performed under the auspices of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and CADF on all participants. The CADF has forwarded to the MPCC the results of all riders of the member teams. All results were in compliance with the standard established by MPCC members. The Board notes with satisfaction that the riders of these MPCC member teams registered for Paris-Nice have scrupulously respected the clauses of their standing orders.
25 controls have been carried out by MPCC since the start of the season : On Paris-Nice.
BACKGROUND ON CORTISOL TESTS BY THE MOUVEMENT POUR UN CYCLISME CRÉDIBLE (MPCC)
The objective of the MPCC and its member teams is to contribute to restoring the credibility of cycling. One of the organisation’s activities are voluntary cortisol tests amongst the riders of the member teams of the MPCC. In case the results of the test present an abnormally low value, the rider concerned will not race for a period of minimum eight days until the cortisol value has recovered again above that minimum value.
For the sake of clarity: it concerns a voluntary norm and the test does not concern an anti-doping control. Under WADA rules, athletes across all sports, with a cortisol level abnormally low, are entitled to perform their sport in competition (unless an anti-doping test has revealed the unauthorized use of the cortisol hormone).
The reason for the MPCC member teams to introduce this voluntary norm (below which the rider concerned will withdraw from competition for that minimum period of eight days), is an effort towards all stakeholders and fans of the sport of cycling and to confirm its commitment to clean sport and to show that cycling and MPCC member teams wish to be a frontrunner in that.
WHY CORTISOL TESTS ?
Although cortisol hormones are an allowed medicine when pre-scribed by a physician, the use of that medicine has frequently been abused in the history of sports (including in cycling) for the purpose of increasing the performance. Besides, a low level of cortisol can potentially endanger the health of athletes in certain circumstances when he/she is in competition while the athletes perform under high intensity or under stress.
For both reasons and with the objective to contribute to restoring the credibility of cycling, the Mouvement pour un Cyclisme Crédible and its member teams have introduced that voluntary norm below which its riders will temporarily withdraw from competition.
Press Release - 3rd March 2021
MPCC held its videoconferenced Board of Directors on 1 March as well as its General Assembly on 2 March. Several important topics have been discussed.
The Board of Directors performed the election of its 2021 Bureau:
- President: Roger Legeay
- Vice-President: Iwan Spekenbrink (Team DSM)
- Treasurer: Sébastien Hinault (Arkea-Samsic)
- Assistant treasurer: Marc Sergeant (Lotto-Soudal)
- Secretary: Philippe Senmartin (Total-Direct Energie)
- Assistant secretary: Franck Trajber (Cofidis Solutions Crédit)
- Physician: Dr Pierre Lebreton (Hematologist)
- Member: Christophe Brandt (Bingoal-WB)
- Member: Gianni Savio (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec)
- Member: Vincent Lavenu (AG2R Citroen Team)
Fight against doping, riders safety, saving the environment
MPCC members noted WADA’s decision to ban any type of glucocorticoids injection starting 2022. This topic has been on our Board of Directors and General Assemblies’ agendas for many years. Since the very beginning of the movement in 2007, our members volunteered to commit to stricter rules about glucocorticoids use. Over the past twelve years, MPCC carried out 4 207 cortisol level tests prior to a lot of major races, thanks to the involvement of the member teams and its riders. The announcement by WADA of stricter regulations on glucocorticoids is good news, as MPCC was not created towards this purpose. However, MPCC will be forced to continue setting up cortisol level tests in 2021, within the framework of the health of the riders.
For many years MPCC has fulfilled its whistleblower role on the glucocorticoids matter. The prospect of reaching a consensus is a big step. Though, the movement insists that it will not be fully satisfied until the exact content of this regulation is known. At this moment, this is still in process. We expect WADA and UCI to release more information to ensure this ban will improve cycling’s credibility and offer equal opportunities to teams and riders. MPCC will hold its whistleblower role with care alongside the governing bodies.
MPCC also remains vigilant on others important topics such as ketones. All the physicians of the member teams committed not to encourage their riders to use this substance. MPCC urges WADA and UCI to make progress on their monitoring studies about ketones so we can rely on a complete knowledge about side effects.
Following these new elements, all of the teams which are not part - or not anymore - of the movement because of our strong engagement on the glucocorticoids should change their minds.
MPCC also reviewed the new rules released by CCP about riders’ safety and environment preservation. The fight for the credibility of cycling is not only about antidoping, so we welcome these decisions as they are relevant with our line: cycling needs its stakeholders to set an example to protect its image.
Race organizers & sanitary context
Our members have expressed concerns after RCS Sport announcement of Giro d’Italia’s wild cards. MPCC will not mess with the choices of the organizers. However, we are surprised that ethical criterion was not taken into account: RCS granted two of its four wild cards to non-MPCC members (Eolo-Kometa and Vini Zabu-Brado-KTM). Vini Zabu-Brado-KTM’s case is annoying: this team, once a member of the MPCC, decided to quit the movement, and experienced a positive antidoping test on the 2020 Giro d’Italia. We reckon that this regrettable event should have influenced the decision of the organizer. Given that this has not been the case, we have trouble understanding how RCS Sport sets its criteria, both in sporting and ethical terms.
At the end of each season, MPCC highlights the ProTeams which received wild cards on WorldTour races. In 2020, RCS Sport didn’t follow the example of other main organizers such as ASO or Flanders Classics, by granting fewer wild cards to MPCC teams – a situation already experienced before. We can’t be confident 2021 will promise us a trend change. Once again, MPCC doesn’t want to put pressure on race organizers’ choices but MPCC is convinced that awarding a wild card for races as popular as the Giro d’Italia to a team which ended the previous edition with a positive antidoping test is a wrong signal.
MPCC would like to remind all the cycling race organizers of its support. In 2020, the consequences of the current Covid-19 crisis caused major difficulties, but a large majority of the races achieved to offer high levels of professionalism to comply with the required sanitary constraints. We can’t say all the sports and all the sporting events reveal the same rigor in the application of the rules. This is why MPCC wants to congratulate all the players of the cycling sport: teams, riders, staff members, sponsors, as well as all the different accredited workers attending the races. In these serious circumstances, all the people who keep our sport alive are displaying responsibility. This is an evidence of the great strength of cycling, a sport which is able to do what has to be done in order to maintain credibility.
Team INCA and the Esteban Chaves Foundation join MPCC as sympathizing members!
« Team INCA » is a U23 team based in Cantal, France. It is dedicated to nurturing South American young riders. The Esteban Chaves Foundation helps the development of cycling in South America.
Here are some words from Team INCA’s Martin Chavignier, Jean Jacques Goullieux and Esteban Chaves Foundation’s Javier Rodriguez:
« Since its creation, the team fights against any form of cheating, doping and mechanical fraud. Our core values are hard work, ethics, humility and team spirit. We have been partners with team AG2R La Mondiale-Citroen since the beginning of the year, and we share these core values with them. Joining MPCC was an obvious choice as we want to clearly commit to a clean cycling.
Our work, beyond the sport, lies in the support of young riders. We wish to help them thrive and build a life which makes them happy. We build the rider’s path of life following this purpose. We want to play our part in such an important movement which is MPCC. »
Cycling more credible than last year?
For the year 2020, our credibility barometer places cycling as the 8th sport worldwide in terms of number of suspected doping cases. The previous year, it was ranked 5th.
The pandemic and its negative effects on the organization of doping controls this year make it more complex to interpret our credibility barometer, which we are presenting for the 7th consecutive year.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as well as many international federations confessed that they had not been able to carry out as many anti-doping tests as in previous years, especially regarding the "out-of-competition" tests. As a large number of events were cancelled or postponed (such as the Tokyo Olympics), the number of “in-competition” tests logically decreased as well. Therefore, it is no surprise to notice a significant drop in the number of publicly disclosed cases in 2020 compared to previous years: it went down by 18.6% compared to last year and by almost 30% compared to 2018 (all sports combined).
In such circumstances, the 113 cases revealed in athletics come as a surprise since this is the most doping cases ever recorded for the sport according to our barometer. Inversely, only 19 cases were sanctioned in baseball in 2020 compared to between 60 and 108 cases in other recent years for the US Sport. However, due to the pandemic, only 60 of the 162 scheduled MLB games have taken place, which may arguably be the main explanation.
Nonetheless, the United States still remains at the top of our ranking (for the 5th consecutive year), ahead of Russia, whose ban from all major events for the next two years was confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in December. In Europe, Italy and the United Kingdom remain the two countries most affected by doping cases for the year 2020.
Generally, in large part due to the global pandemic, the sports that are usually the most affected by doping have seen fewer cases in 2020. This is notably true for cycling, which experienced a brutal year back in 2019, with a record of 32 revealed cases (more than double the previous year’s number).
In 2020, 18 procedures have been opened in cycling for high-level athletes (all disciplines and genres combined). Although this is far less than the previous season, the number remains significant given the context of a season shortened by several months and with a significantly lower number of tests.
Let us conclude this 2020 report with an encouraging figure: among the suspected doping cases, only 3 riders (men) belong to worldteams or proteams (there were 8 last year). Not since the creation of the WorldTour 15 years ago has this number been so low.
Press Release of 11 December 2020
The members of the MPCC Board took part in a video meeting on 11th December 2020. Roger Legeay, President of the Movement, praised the motivation and the tenacious engagement of its members at the end of a special year 2020.
Corticosteroids: we’re moving forward!
One of the main topics of the Board meeting was the prohibition by the UCI of corticosteroids use. This prohibition, initially planned for 1st January 2019, has still not been enforced as of today. The fight against corticosteroids usage has been the banner of MPCC for numerous years. MPCC’s internal rules, since their creation, followed the same path. For thirteen years now, the members of the movement have been annoyed to see that they have been on their own when it comes to committing to strict and transparent rules on cortisol levels. WADA’s Executive Committee recently decided to prohibit any injectable form of glucocorticosteroids usage starting 1st January 2022. This is a real step ahead, praised by MPCC on its whole. The movement will nevertheless keep on carrying cortisol tests in 2021 during the wait.
Concerning the current year, MPCC carried 449 cortisol level tests during the season, all of which came clear of any anomaly. Broadly speaking, the movement highlights the fact that every MPCC team committed to the internal rules of the MPCC.
Ketones: it’s stalling!
The concerns of the members of the MPCC Board about the misuse of corticosteroids are as strong as the concerns about the usage, on clear sight, of ketones. On this subject, we can only observe baby steps ahead. UCI, through the voice of its Medical Director, confirmed to our movement that it advised not to use ketones: this is a good start. As of today, ketones are not part of the UCI list of prohibited substances and methods. On own their side, members of the MPCC, following the advice of their doctors, decided to commit to not using ketones and asked, following the corticosteroids path, not to be left alone in this strict commitment. Considering that ketones can enhance performance but can also damage the health of the riders because of the potential side effect, this substance is a problem per se, and will continue to be so in the future if no decision is taken.
MPCC does not wish to see cycling viewed as a sport in which one can use dangerous substances. The Movement is also surprised by the absence of a consensus on the topic. Thus, MPCC will submit a formal request to WADA on the subject. Adding ketones to the WADA Monitoring Program would facilitate a potential consensus. Though, MPCC is glad to see a study on ecdysteroids being added to the Monitoring Program this year, as the members of the movement have been preoccupied by the possible usage of this substance in cycling.
Aderlass: we’re not making real progress!
The Board of the MPCC also raised questions about the Aderlass case. Contacted by MPCC to alert UCI about the significance of this case, President Mr. David Lappartient’s answer stated that CADF carried more than 800 tests on already tested samples from 2013 to 2019, and all of them came clear of any substances prohibited by WADA. M. Lappartient confesses that “no quick conclusion can be drawn from these tests. In any case, the totality of these samples will be preserved for potential future tests should circumstances so require”
MPCC acknowledges this situation but warns that it will stay cautious about this case that shed a harsh light on the difficulties encountered by our anti-doping system to stay in touch with reality.
MPCC and its members, who amounts for 68% of the first and second division teams, consider themselves to be legitimate whistleblowers: it has been one of the keystones of the movement since its creation. Though, MPCC must also ensure that this alert goes the distance. Reunited during the meeting of December 11th, the members of the Board proved determined to maintain this course.
94% of the Wild Card were granted to MPCC teams in 2020
In 2019, 91% of the wild cards were given to teams belonging to MPCC. In 2020, this figure rose again, reaching 94%. 100% remains the objective.
At the end of each season, MPCC delivers an infographic to sum up the choices made by the World Tour races regarding wild cards. This infographic aims at showing whether the wild cards were granted to MPCC teams or not.
In 2019, 91% of the World Tour wild cards were granted to MPCC teams. There are usually 3 or 4 wild cards on stage races, and up to 11 on one-day races. This percentage is already a success, but the movement is still aiming at 100% for all these organizers. Reaching this objective would be a great reward for our strong commitment, on a voluntary basis, to stricter ethical rules.
In 2020, the proportion of MPCC teams climbed up to 94% from 91% last year. The World Tour organizers never stopped trusting the Continental Pro members of our movement, and we can only be glad for that. Let's point out that 97 fewer wild cards granted due to unplanned race cancellations and because the number of World Tour teams went from 18 to 19.
The movement regrets the fact that not all the Grand Tour wild cards went to MPCC teams, contrary to last year when the objective was reached. Once again, RCS Sport, the organizers of the Giro d’Italia, granted one wild card to a non-MPCC team – with one rider of said team tested positive to Enobosarm, a substance forbidden by WADA, on this year’s Giro d’Italia. The movement also notes that Milan – San Remo and Il Lombardia, two Monuments, followed the same path. These two races fall under the responsibility of RCS Sport. MPCC is fully aware that it cannot enforce the choice of the wild cards by an organizer which is not part of the movement. However, MPCC reckons that restraining these wild cards to MPCC members would be a strong signal for the credibility of cycling.
MPCC wishes to underline the strong and remarkable commitment of numerous organizers. Together, they strengthen the credibility of our sport. It is quite a shame that all the other organizers do not follow the same path knowing that the future of cycling relies strongly on this. As usual, MPCC makes the same strong wish: to see all of the 2021 wilds cards delivered to teams belonging to the movement and encourages teams and federations which are still not part of the movement to commit to stricter rules.
In 2020, 17 of the 19 Continental Pro teams, the ones eligible for World Tour wild cards, were part of the MPCC. The two non-members were Uno-X Norwegian Development Team et Vini Zabu KTM.
An unusual year means unusual Credibility Figures too.
Because of the global pandemic, MPCC is fully aware that these figures are altered by a lower number of anti-doping tests carried out through the year. Though, reality can sometimes be unsettling.
The global coronavirus pandemic was a serious obstacle to the antidoping fight this year. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), through its General Director Olivier Niggli, conceded a few days ago that the pandemic may have created some « holes » in the anti-doping programs in several countries.
Multiple international federations agree with this unpleasant statement. The Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation (CADF) admitted a 90% decrease in the out-of-competition tests during the two months following the start of the pandemic compared to the same period last year.
Across all sports, we logically account for a lower number of cases than during the previous years. There is one notable exception: track and field, where almost 100 cases have been revealed throughout the first three quarters of the year 2020 (as against 81 cases during the whole year 2019).
Within the same period, cycling had to deal with a dozen of cases (two within World Teams), a lower figure than last year at the same time, but still very close to the data of the last 5 years. This last observation is a great source of worry for MPCC, given the lower number of tests in 2020.
Cortisol Level Tests on the Vuelta a España
12 member teams subjected 91 riders to cortisol level tests on the Vuelta a España. All the riders have been allowed to start.
On the Vuelta a España, 12 member teams registered for the race submitted 91 riders to cortisol level tests as part of their commitment to the Movement for a Credible Cycling (MPCC):
These voluntary tests have been performed under the auspices of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and CADF on all participants. The CADF has forwarded to the MPCC the results of all riders of the member teams. All results were in compliance with the standard established by MPCC members. The Board notes with satisfaction that the riders of these MPCC member teams registered for the Vuelta a España have scrupulously respected the clauses of their standing orders.
442 controls have been carried out by MPCC since the start of the season : On Paris-Nice, Route d'Occitanie, Tour de Ain, Critérium du Dauphiné, French Nationals, Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España.
BACKGROUND ON CORTISOL TESTS BY THE MOUVEMENT POUR UN CYCLISME CRÉDIBLE (MPCC)
The objective of the MPCC and its member teams is to contribute to restoring the credibility of cycling. One of the organisation’s activities are voluntary cortisol tests amongst the riders of the member teams of the MPCC. In case the results of the test present an abnormally low value, the rider concerned will not race for a period of minimum eight days until the cortisol value has recovered again above that minimum value.
For the sake of clarity: it concerns a voluntary norm and the test does not concern an anti-doping control. Under WADA rules, athletes across all sports, with a cortisol level abnormally low, are entitled to perform their sport in competition (unless an anti-doping test has revealed the unauthorized use of the cortisol hormone).
The reason for the MPCC member teams to introduce this voluntary norm (below which the rider concerned will withdraw from competition for that minimum period of eight days), is an effort towards all stakeholders and fans of the sport of cycling and to confirm its commitment to clean sport and to show that cycling and MPCC member teams wish to be a frontrunner in that.
WHY CORTISOL TESTS ?
Although cortisol hormones are an allowed medicine when pre-scribed by a physician, the use of that medicine has frequently been abused in the history of sports (including in cycling) for the purpose of increasing the performance. Besides, a low level of cortisol can potentially endanger the health of athletes in certain circumstances when he/she is in competition while the athletes perform under high intensity or under stress.
For both reasons and with the objective to contribute to restoring the credibility of cycling, the Mouvement pour un Cyclisme Crédible and its member teams have introduced that voluntary norm below which its riders will temporarily withdraw from competition.
Giro d'Italia 2020: 22 teams under the microscope
In an infography, we have represented the 2020 Giro d'Italia peloton, distinguishing MPCC member teams and non-member teams. Amongst member teams, no rider have ever been suspended. Within non-members, 4 already have
In the event of every grand tour race or big championships, the MPCC highlights how many riders are part of the movement but also how many riders have been suspended for doping in the past.
The spirit of the MPCC is to regroup teams which on a voluntary basis define stricter rules than international organizations. Amongst those, this one: « Don’t hire riders involved in doping cases and banned for more than 6 months, except no-shows, in the two years following the suspension. »
On the 2020 Giro d'Italia, MPCC members chose not to pick any riders previously suspended for doping. This choice matches the philosophy of the movement, thus fostering cycling's credibility. There are 11 MPCC members on this year's Tour de France, representing 50% of the peloton.
Cortisol Level Tests on the Giro d'Italia
11 member teams subjected 88 riders to cortisol level tests on the Giro d'Italia. All the riders have been allowed to start.
On the Giro d'Italia, 11 member teams registered for the race submitted 88 riders to cortisol level tests as part of their commitment to the Movement for a Credible Cycling (MPCC):
These voluntary tests have been performed under the auspices of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and CADF on all participants. The CADF has forwarded to the MPCC the results of all riders of the member teams. All results were in compliance with the standard established by MPCC members. The Board notes with satisfaction that the riders of these MPCC member teams registered for the Giro d'Italia have scrupulously respected the clauses of their standing orders.
349 controls have been carried out by MPCC since the start of the season : On Paris-Nice, Route d'Occitanie, Tour de Ain, Critérium du Dauphiné, French Nationals, Tour de France and Giro d'Italia.
BACKGROUND ON CORTISOL TESTS BY THE MOUVEMENT POUR UN CYCLISME CRÉDIBLE (MPCC)
The objective of the MPCC and its member teams is to contribute to restoring the credibility of cycling. One of the organisation’s activities are voluntary cortisol tests amongst the riders of the member teams of the MPCC. In case the results of the test present an abnormally low value, the rider concerned will not race for a period of minimum eight days until the cortisol value has recovered again above that minimum value.
For the sake of clarity: it concerns a voluntary norm and the test does not concern an anti-doping control. Under WADA rules, athletes across all sports, with a cortisol level abnormally low, are entitled to perform their sport in competition (unless an anti-doping test has revealed the unauthorized use of the cortisol hormone).
The reason for the MPCC member teams to introduce this voluntary norm (below which the rider concerned will withdraw from competition for that minimum period of eight days), is an effort towards all stakeholders and fans of the sport of cycling and to confirm its commitment to clean sport and to show that cycling and MPCC member teams wish to be a frontrunner in that.
WHY CORTISOL TESTS ?
Although cortisol hormones are an allowed medicine when pre-scribed by a physician, the use of that medicine has frequently been abused in the history of sports (including in cycling) for the purpose of increasing the performance. Besides, a low level of cortisol can potentially endanger the health of athletes in certain circumstances when he/she is in competition while the athletes perform under high intensity or under stress.
For both reasons and with the objective to contribute to restoring the credibility of cycling, the Mouvement pour un Cyclisme Crédible and its member teams have introduced that voluntary norm below which its riders will temporarily withdraw from competition.