AFLD President publicly criticises UCI's Tour tests

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President of the French anti-doping Authority (AFLD) Pierre Bordry has publicly criticized the anti-doping methods of the International Cycling Union (UCI) at this year's Tour de France. Bordry's comments came at a press conference on Wednesday where he stated that the AFLD would not seek a repeat of the co-operative approach to testing that had occurred between it and the UCI at this year's Tour.

"I won't be asking to work with the UCI doing the controls in 2010," said Bordry, according to AFP. "International [sporting] federations must understand that when it comes to anti-doping you have to be rigorous and transparent, otherwise doubts are raised which may not be founded, but which are justified by the absence of transparency."

Bordry's criticism of the UCI centres on what he perceives to be inconsistent and inadequate protocols at doping controls carried out during the Tour. Reports published in French newspapers Le Monde and Le Figaro on Monday suggested that Astana riders, including Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador, had been given up to 45 minutes before providing samples to UCI controllers during the Tour.

"What is surprising is that the UCI does not organise the controls in a regular manner, which can create opportunities [for teams or riders]," said Bordry today. "I am astonished that there were no positive doping tests at this year's race."

On Monday, the UCI responded to the reports with a press release in which it denied the AFLD's claims of preferential treatment, as well as suggestions that it mishandled samples taken. Today, it reaffirmed its position and refused to be drawn on the questions of whether or not it would co-operate with the AFLD in future.

"We don’t want to retaliate in this game, and it’s a game for him [Bordry] to get media attention," UCI Press Officer Enrico Carpani told Cyclingnews on Wednesday. "He accused us on Monday and we replied clearly. He accused us again today so all we can do is confirm our position from earlier in the week. I can't say anything about the future relationship between the UCI and AFLD. We stand by our press release."

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