French federation wants greater antidoping measures

In a letter addressed to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the French ministry for Sports and Youth, the French Cycling Federation (FFC) has suggested further proposals to improve the fight against doping in cycling. The letter signed by FFC president Jean Pitallier and federal doctor Armand Mégret was sent on Tuesday, putting forward proposals within regulatory medical observation as well as measures in the fight against doping as such.

For instance, the FFC suggested that the team doctors may put a rider to rest when observing biological anomalies suspected to having been induced by manipulation. Until now, the prohibition of a rider to carry on his profession only takes effect when a certain level of red blood cells is attained (50). In this case, the FFC would like to see a possibility of out-of-competition tests of the suspected rider to be increased, and all of the European laboratories to work with the same material in order to make the biological examinations effective.

Furthermore, and within the framework of anti-doping measures, the FFC is in favour of disciplinary actions "in case of biological anomaly proving, even indirectly, that prohibited substances or methods have been used to manipulate." It also asked for an additional urinary sample to be taken at anti-doping tests, which could be analysed later in time when progress is made on the detection of new doping methods, and an increased number of out-of-competition tests "extending to the start of important races."

The fight against doping will be one of the topics addressed at the meetings between FFC officials and the UCI in Aigle, Switzerland, taking place this week.