Vuelta: 22 teams under the radar
In an infography, we have represented the 2017 Vuelta a Espana peloton, distinguishing member teams and non-member teams of MPCC. Amongst member teams, no riders have ever been suspended. Within non-members, 5 already have!
In the event of every grand tour race or big championships, the Mouvement Pour un Cyclisme Crédible (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 2017 Vuelta a Espana, 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 were 11 MPCC members on this year's Vuelta a Espana, representing half of the peloton.
Among the 198 riders who have started the race, four of them were suspended for doping in the past. They all took part in the Vuelta a Espana wearing the colors of non-MPCC members. A fifth rider have been prevented from starting the race because of a positive test just before Nimes' grand depart.
2017 Vuelta a Espana Infography
> See the Infography : 2016 Tour de France - 2017 Giro d'Italia - 2017 Tour de France <
Determination of cortisol on the Vuelta a España
The team members of the MPCC have submitted their riders to 99 cortisol level test on the Vuelta a España. All the riders have been allowed to start.
On the Vuelta a España, 11 member teams registered for the race submitted 99 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) on all participants. The UCI has forwarded to the MPCC the results of all riders of the member teams. All values were above the voluntary MPCC norm. 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.
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.
Determination of cortisol on the Tour du Limousin
The team members of the MPCC have submitted 45 riders to a cortisol level test on the Tour du Limousin. All the riders have been allowed to start.
Before the third stage of the Tour du Limousin, 15 member teams registered for the race submitted 45 riders to a cortisol level test as part of their commitment to the Movement for a Credible Cycling (MPCC).
These voluntary tests have been performed in collaboration with French Cycling Association (FFC) and French Cycling League (LNC). All values were above the voluntary MPCC norm. The Board notes with satisfaction that the riders of these MPCC member teams registered for the Tour du Limousin have scrupulously respected the clauses of their standing orders.
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.
Determination of cortisol on the BinckBank Tour
The team members of the MPCC have submitted 33 riders to a cortisol level test on the BinckBank Tour. All the riders have been allowed to start in the 3rd stage.
Before the 3rd stage of the BinckBank Tour, 11 member teams registered for the race submitted 33 riders to a cortisol level test as part of their commitment to the Movement for a Credible Cycling (MPCC).
These voluntary tests have been performed in collaboration with the Royal Dutch Cycling Union (KNWU). All values were above the voluntary MPCC norm. The Board notes with satisfaction that the riders of these MPCC member teams registered for the BinckBank Tour have scrupulously respected the clauses of their standing orders.
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.
DOPING FIGURES AS AT 30 JUNE
At the end of each quarter, MPCC lists the doping cases released sport by sport, in order to better situate the place cycling occupies in comparison to other sports. At mid-year, baseball, athletics and weightlifting lead the way.
The number of doping controls carried on in athletics or weightlifting still doesn't seem high enough to dissuade many cheaters. This remains true even if you exclude the samples retested by the WADA after a certain number of big events such as the World Championships or London and Beijing Olympic Games. Over the same period in 2016, the number of positive tests in athletics has almost doubled (45 vs 24) as it tripled in weightlifting (33 vs 12).
But the sport affected by the most important number of positive tests remains baseball : more than 50 cases after six months, total similar to last year. And this sport continues to give the athletes lower penalties than in the other sports which have really decided to fight against doping.
In the second quarter, cycling faced a sharp increase of provisional suspensions. 11 doping cases have been noted since the beginning of the season. Our sport is 8th in this sad ranking but we have to remind that over the same period in 2016, the number of positive tests was only 4.
Identifying cases of doping is not an easy task and is subject to discretion if required by their respective international federations, some do not advertise doping cases in their discipline. Cycling, in contrast, reveals each positive test. Our numbers are therefore based on proven cases in 2017, according to official communications federations and anti-doping agencies.
MPCC cycling counting includes:
- ROAD CYCLING: 10 Cases
- BMX : 1
- MTB : 0
- TRACK CYCLING : 0
DISCOVER THE DOPING CASES REVEALED
Cortisol level tests on the Tour de France
The team members of the MPCC have submitted their riders to 133 cortisol level test on the Tour de France. All the riders have been allowed to start.
On the Tour de France, 11 member teams registered for the race submitted their riders to cortisol level tests as part of their commitment to the Movement for a Credible Cycling (MPCC): 99 at the start in Düsseldorf, 34 in Marseille.
These voluntary tests have been performed under the auspices of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) on all participants. The UCI has forwarded to the MPCC the results of all riders of the member teams. All values were above the voluntary MPCC norm. The Board notes with satisfaction that the riders of these MPCC member teams registered for the Tour de France have scrupulously respected the clauses of their standing orders.
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.
Tour de France : 22 TEAMS UNDER THE RADAR
In an infography, we have represented the 2017 Tour de France peloton, distinguishing member teams and non-member teams of MPCC. Amongst member teams, no riders have ever been suspended. Within non-members, 4 already have!
In the event of every grand tour race or big championships, the Mouvement Pour un Cyclisme Crédible (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 2017 Tour de France, 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. Like last year, there were 11 MPCC members on this year's Tour de France, representing half of the peloton.
Among the 198 riders who have started the race, four of them were suspended for doping in the past. They all took part in the Tour de France wearing the colors of non-MPCC members. Though, this figure is a sort of an improvement : last year, there were six of them !
2017 Tour de France Infography
> See the Infography : 2016 Tour de France - 2017 Giro d'Italia <
PRESS RELEASE OF 26 JUNE 2017
The MPCC regrets that the organizers of the Giro d'Italia decided to keep inviting teams that aren't part of our movement. The Tour de France and the Vuelta committed to our philosophy and never had any regrets so far.
The UCI has just giver a 30 days suspension to team BARDIANI, thus forbidding it to take part into races until July 14th. This sanction is a consequence of the exclusion of 2 of its riders at the eve of the Giro start, after their positive doping controls. Nevertheless, the Italian team was still given the go to race the Giro d'Italia, despite the discredit they were brought upon.
On the 7th of June, at the last MPCC board, Roger Legeay reminded that in January 2014, he met with the organizers of the Giro and highlighted that it was necessary to give the priority to MPCC members when it came to delivering wild cards.
Even though the organizers of Grand Tours must invite all of the World Tour teams (7 out of 18 are MPCC members), they are free to invite any Pro Continental team (19 out of 22 are MPCC members).
Last october, at the Tour de France 2017 unveiling, Christian Prudhomme (A.S.O) reminded that he was very committed to the MPCC's philosophy and that he only wanted to MPCC Pro Continental teams for wildcards on the races he organizes.
On the other hand, the organizers of the Giro d'Italia - RCS - invited 3 Pro Continental teams that chose not to commit to - or to step out of - the MPCC's most strict rules which main purpose is to strenghten the credibility of our sport.
On this infographic, one can notice that riders chosen by the MPCC teams have a significant impact regarding the prestige of a race like the Giro d'Italia. These choices creates a contrast among all the riders at the start of this 100th edition.
In a letter to Mauro VEGNI, Roger Legeay reaffirmed his wish to see RCS join the MPCC in the near future, thus enabling us to work together towards the same goal : the credibility of our sports and its beautiful competitions.
DOCUMENTS :
Interview with Emmanuel Chazalet, AG2R La Mondiale
The shared journey between the MPCC and the company AG2R La Mondiale reached a turning point in March 2015. While the rider Lloyd Mondory had been tested positive, Vincent Lavenu’s team had to suspend itself - under the MPCC regulation - for the Critérium du Dauphiné. Thanks to this strict compliance with the rules the team committed to, the french structure reaffirmed its strong opposition to all forms of cheating.
Still, AG2R La Mondiale’s MPCC membership should not only be seen as a commitment against doping.
Head of Communication, Branding & Digital Emmanuel Chazalet explains:
« The first thing we think about is doping and its links with health. But this isn't enough, with the development of new technologies for instance, technological fraud has appeared. Other problems such as betting fraud can have important consequences on performance and on the values of cycling. We now know that cycling's ethical value goes beyond the problem of doping and it embraces lots of different themes that are important for the sponsors, for the partners, and for all the MPCC members. »
The company AG2R La Mondiale immediately expressed its support and confidence to the team manager Vincent Lavenu.
AG2R La Mondiale’s CEO André Renaudin stated:
« From the bottom of our hearts, we share the emotion of Vincent Lavenu and all of his team. The error of one individual should not cause the rest of the team to feel guilty or weaken, nor should it cast doubt upon the historic ties that unite us. We are confident that the team will bring us great moments of happiness in 2015. »
One year later, in the middle of the 2016 Tour de France, the company announced its decision to award this ethical sense by extending the partnership with the team until 2020.
INTERVIEW :
Interview with Rodolphe Boulinguez, FDJ Sponsoring
Recognised as a major actor in the cycling sponsoring since 1997, the company FDJ immediately decided to provide support for the MPCC at the inception of the movement in 2007. With Marc Madiot’s cycling team joining the movement, the French lottery considered its adhesion as something natural too.
At the sponsors meeting on 22 October 2013, the then FDJ’s responsible for sponsoring Thierry Huguenin declared: « We invest into cycling because we believe in its values as we cannot accept cheating regarding our lottery activities. Back in 1998, some sponsors united with FDJ to draft a charter. We expect the MPCC to give cycling its credibility back - an ambitious but necessary task. »
He also pointed out: « Some companies invest into cycling for 15, 20 or 30 years. This is no coincidence if they have decided to commit to the MPCC. »
Today, FDJ’s effort-and-patience strategy becomes successful as shown by 2014 Tour de France Pinot’s finish podium but also 2016 Milan-Sanremo Démare’s victory. Still, this sponsor maintains a high level of vigilance as it continues to be involved in the MPCC. Huguenin’s successor Rodolphe Boulinguez renews FDJ’s call to the other companies investing into cycling to join the movement.
He states : « We are not part of the MPCC in order to collect years of membership. We believe in the purpose and we are right because if the MPCC continues to exist, that is because it is needed. But all of this is going in the right direction: some of the MPCC rules have been implemented in the UCI regulation. »
INTERVIEW :