International fight against doping strengthens as UCI and USADA join forces

Cycling's governing body and the United States Anti-Doping Agency will share intelligence and work together in joint anti-doping missions

An amateur racer has been banned for doping

(Image credit: Yuzuru Sunada)

The fight against doping in cycling took a step forward on Wednesday as the sport's governing body, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announced that it has established a partnership with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

The collaboration will see the organisations sharing anti-doping intelligence, information and riders' biological passport data in a new level of co-operation to prevent and catch drug cheats in cycling.

UCI president Brian Cookson hailed the partnership as 'tremendous progress' in re-establishing the credibility of the organisation after previous doping scandals and allegations of cover-ups.

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"Signing a sharing agreement with one of the most important stakeholders in the field of anti-doping is another testimony to the tremendous progress we have made in the past three years in rebuilding trust in the UCI," said Cookson.

"This partnership strengthens our intelligence-led approach and we now have an unprecedented level of collaboration with anti-doping organisations around the world."

The Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation (CADF) – who undertake the anti-doping programme in the sport on behalf of the UCI – will work with USADA to form a new testing plan for UCI sanctioned cycling events in the USA.

USADA CEO Travis Tygart said: "I am excited that the progress made by the UCI over the last several years has allowed our organisations to now come together to best serve clean athletes.

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"We know from experience that when sport organisations partner with independent anti-doping organisations, it brings confidence to athletes that their rights are being protected, and that they can compete and win on a level playing field."

Earlier this week, the UCI announced that thermal imaging cameras will be used during the Tour de France (July 2-24) to help detect hidden electric motors in bikes.

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Nigel Wynn
Former Associate Editor

Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.