British team Plowman Craven / Evans Cycles announced a new anti-doping initiative "Race Clean" on Friday in Harrow, Middlesex just two days prior to the start of the Tour of Britain.
At the British Olympic Medical Institute (BOMI), the team announced that its riders will have their blood systematically tested regularly to build a "blood passport" to establish an independent test history that will highlight any abnormalities including haemoglobin and haematocrit levels. The tests will be carried out by Professor Greg Whyte and a team at the Liverpool John Moores University along with team at the BOMI in Harrow. The tests supplement those administered by UK Sport.
Simon Barnes, team founder and boss of Hertfordshire based Geomatics company Plowman Craven, said, "Everyone involved with Plowman Craven Evans Cycles including the riders, sponsors and management are committed to the fight against doping in our sport. The Race Clean initiative is designed to promote and ensure drug free competition and to help restore confidence in the sport of cycling."
Although the ProTour teams have adopted similar voluntary anti-doping programs, Plowman Craven / Evans is helping forge the way for European Continental teams to follow such programs. The team will wear a special uniform in the Tour of Britain, with the "Race Clean" logo emblazoned on their shirt sleeves and on their shorts. Penalties against any rider found with abnormal test levels include dismissal and repayment of salary.
