MPCC, a force of proposition recognized by UCI
"When the UCI and the PCC spend one hour debating on MPCC, saying “they agree with our philosophy and objectives", it does mean we go in the right direction."
The meeting of PCC last week has strengthened the links between the UCI and MPCC. What conclusions do you draw?
First of all, it was very important to introduce MPCC to all new members of the Professional Cycling Council (PCC) chaired by David Lappartient and UCI President Brian Cookson. MPCC today represents 75% of the World Tour and Pro Continental teams. That means 75% of runners, 75% of physicians, 75% of sponsors ... and also Continental and Women's teams, national federations, organizers. Obviously, this gives great importance to our work. MPCC has a large majority in professional cycling and embodies a true philosophy. Our movement continues to grow with the opening to the women's teams, which will be more numerous in the movement in the coming weeks. International bodies recognize MPCC. When the UCI and the PCC spend one hour debating on MPCC, saying “they agree with our philosophy and objectives", it does mean we go in the right direction.
How can we determine the exact role of MPCC with the UCI?
MPCC is an essential complement to the action of the UCI and WADA, we are on their side. In the past, major doping scandals that have shattered the sport in general, were not only triggered by the authorities, but also by external investigations. Legally, the UCI cannot do what they want to fight against doping. They must fully comply with the rules established by WADA. MPCC's basic principles are volunteering and personal commitment: this is a major trail that had not been exploited so far. It is in this sense that we are fully complementary to the actions of the UCI and WADA. We can take action they cannot lead. Authorities have their limits. For example, when the IOC had forbidden the participation of positive athletes at the London Olympic Games, the Arbitral Tribunal of Sport, whose all decisions are "right" under the law, had invalidated the decision. This has been the case in many other actions led by our leaders. Volunteering can override this: the manager, organizer, President of Federation, member of MPCC, has a decision-making power, the power of respecting the international rules, but also the rules issued together by MPCC.
"Now everybody knows how MPCC works, which stricter rules are observed by the members, how strong and significant their commitment is."
What will the consultation of the UCI with MPCC consist of ?
The UCI said: "What you do helps us, bravo! Volunteering is obviously an essential complement to our action". The UCI will examine the possibility of incorporating in its regulations MPCC rules that do not involve legal blockage. MPCC will make an annual report on its activity to PCC. At this meeting of the PCC, we realized that everyone agreed with the philosophy of MPCC. Everybody! The keystone remains voluntary participation and that is the reason why MPCC was created and grown up. Few teams already applied some of our rules before the creation of the movement, and now, they are 75% to get involved. This changes the game and become a key addition to the UCI and WADA. MPCC formally complete the anti-doping device desired by all.
And the strict compliance with the rules of MPCC is no stranger to the growing support of these authorities?
In 2013, following the massive wave of accessions recorded during the previous winter, the MPCC rules have all been applied by all members This has reinforced our efforts and this work is crowned by the recognition of the PCC and UCI. This year that has passed has validated the credibility of MPCC, to give a meaning to the renewal of credibility of cycling. Now everybody knows how MPCC works, which stricter rules are observed by the members, how strong and significant their commitment is.
MPCC expects actions from the French Ministry of Sports
MPCC wants to alert the French authorities to cortisol controls. To do so, MPCC has contacted the Sports Minister Valérie Fourneyron at the end of February, after initial discussions dating from 2013. A letter was sent on May, 13th, 2013 to raise awareness about the need to apply the rules of cortisol controls to all teams, members or non-members of MPCC, on every competition taking place in France. The French Ministry of Sports had answered on June, 27th 2013, but since then no decision was taken. That’s why MPCC returned to Mrs. Fourneyron to invite her to reconsider these proposals, which also include the prohibition of Tramadol in competition and the need to make a formal request to the World Anti-Doping Agency for this product to be written on the list of banned products.
"It would be logical to see all the teams taking part to a competition, being controlled in the same manner and medically monitored externally."
This letter was sent to the French Ministry of Sports on February, 25th. Since 2008, MPCC has performed blood tests to check cortisol levels of riders, whose teams are members of the movement, in collaboration with the French Cycling Federation and the National League of Cycling. It is a public health problem with occupational risks for employees of companies exercising regularly or temporarily on French territory : MPCC members are not pleased with the response that was made to them, feeling not being heard.
"In the context of health, we do think it is possible to integrate the parameter of cortisol in samples that you will make on the French territory”, writes MPCC in this letter. "It would be logical to see all the teams taking part to a competition, being controlled in the same manner and medically monitored externally." Now MPCC expects actions from the French Ministry of Sports in order to promote equity among teams and to participate in restoring credibility to cycling.
Tirol Cycling Team joins MPCC
"We hereby apply for membership in MPCC and state that we will succumb and adhere to the internal rules and regulations as established by MPCC, explains Thomas Pupp, manager of the team. By becoming a member of MPCC we would like to express our engagement and support for a fair and clean sport. Especially as team which mainly consists of U23 riders we feel it is our obligation to guide young sportsmen in the world of sport, teach them a set of moral and ethical values and provide a helping hand in difficult periods of life and sport. An MPCC membership will help us to put down a marker and to show both riders and the public that we are serious about the “Code de Conduite” and that we intend to win in a fair way. At the same time we strive to support the struggle for a fair sport by contributing to a community of like-minded people."
Itera-Katusha joins MPCC
The Continental team Itera-Katusha is now provisional member of MPCC, after the acceptance of the application by the board. Others russian teams Katusha, Rusvelo and Rusvelo women were already members. Last week, MPCC welcomed many other new members : Poitou-Charentes - Futuroscope 86, Giant-Shimano Development Team, Giant-Shimano Women team, Rusvelo Women, MG Kvis Trevigiani, Bauknecht Author and Israel Cycling.
Astana Continental, Vino4Ever and Astana BePink members of MPCC
Three new Kazakh teams are joining MPCC ! A year after the World Tour team Astana became a member of MPCC, its official reserve team Astana Continental is taking the same step. Another Kazakh Continental team created this winter, Vino4Ever, also joins MPCC. And finally, we have received the membership request of the new Astana ladies team, Astana BePink. Therefore, there are now three women team into MPCC : Lotto-Belisol Ladies, Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies and Astana BePink, runned by its manager Walter Zini.
Ladies teams adhesions continue with Optum !
The women team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies is now provisional member of MPCC, thereby joining the men team, accepted into the movement in 2013. This is the second adhesion of a women team in less than three months to become member of MPCC, after Lotto-Belisol Ladies. The manager of Optum women team is Charles Aaron.
Vini Fantini - Nippo - De Rosa joins MPCC
Hiroshi Daimon, manager of the Italian-Japanese team Vini Fantini - Nippo - De Rosa, has requested to join MPCC. Registered in the Continental division, this team is now provisional member of MPCC. "After activating a collaboration with an Analysis Laboratory UCI accredited for building an internal biological passport and after having entrusted to Sport-Medical and Cardiohologic Department of University Gabriele D'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara to develop a specific research against doping for our athletes, we would complete our team protection, control and clarity profile with this important submission, said Daimon. We are ready to immediately comply all the rules of the Association."
Norway Cycling Federation member of MPCC
New member of MPCC, the Norway Cycling Federation is the eighth federation to join the movement, after french, belgian, swiss, irish, moroccan, singaporean federations and European Cycling Union.
Neri Sottoli - Yellow Fluo is now MPCC provisional member
Formerly known as Vini Fantini, the Italian Pro Continental team Neri Sottoli - Yellow Fluo is now provisional member of MPCC. The manager Angelo Citracca requested the membership in the last few days : "The reasons of our request is the completely share of MPCC values. We accept and we will respect totally the internal rules. We have added the indication of this join in the movement in our internal documents and in our rules of procedure for the athlete." The final membership of Neri Sottoli - Yellow Fluo will be voted the 4th of february by the board.
Within teams, MPCC win votes !
The impact of the Armstrong case was the trigger at the end of 2012 to an awareness that quickly prompted teams, sponsors, federations and organizers to join or support MPCC. There was also the speech of Christian Prudhomme at the presentation of the 100th Tour de France, a little more than one year ago in Paris. The boss of the Tour de France had clearly stated that the organizers of ASO would give therefore a preference to teams of our movement.
Like many others did, the Australian team Orica-Green Edge then joined the movement, and this permitted to MPCC teams to get the majority within the World Tour (*). There was especially the involvement of all components of cycling in this fresh boost and the respect of commitments made on a voluntary basis, like those runners who chose to wear the blue bracelet MPCC.
These are the different episodes that participated in renewed credibility of cycling during the past year, but have also allowed MPCC to strengthen as an interlocutor within our sport.
Eleven members teams within World Tour
This representation is confirmed and consolidated, day after day, with an uninterrupted cycle of new memberships. These past two months, eight teams have applied to join MPCC, without forgetting a women’s team that also applied. It’s a first !
(*) This will still be the case in 2014, despite the disappearance of the team Vacansoleil (and Euskaltel - non member), but with the accession to the global division of Europcar, MPCC member since 2007.