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.
An Post - Chainreaction provisional member of MPCC
An Post - Chainreaction, a Belgian team created in 2006 by the former rider Seán Kelly, part of the Continental division, is now provisional member of MPCC. The manager is Kurt Bogaerts, the doctor is Frank Beuckelaers. The full membership will be voted in february 2014.