PROS – Credibility figures: tainted continental teams | 3bikes.fr, your Cycling, Gravel & Triathlon magazine

In terms of ethics, 2022 seems to place cycling at the same level as in 2019, before the two years of the pandemic: 29 alleged doping cases, which is ten more than last year. A finding that challenges the MPCC.

For many years, athletics has remained the sport most affected by doping cases. Its multiple disciplines have made it the king of sports at the Olympic Games, but also the most scrutinized. And for good reason! The number of cases revealed in 2022 is the highest in the eight years we have kept this “barometer” up to date.

It should be noted that this count only takes into account cases revealed by federations, anti-doping agencies, the justice system, or the press. We only consider procedures related to high-level or professional athletes. Since 2018, we have included cases of fraud and corruption concerning the entourage often close to athletes, as well as match-fixing that can directly involve athletes.

We also distinguish between usual controls and the re-analysis of samples, which have multiplied in recent years. For example, the legal retesting period for samples taken during the London 2012 Games has just ended. After a decade of procedures, 73 new doping cases have been uncovered. 31 Olympic medals have been withdrawn. Seven of the eight titles obtained by Russia in athletics have been confiscated!

Russia is once again at the top of the podium of countries most affected in their credibility at the end of 2022. A podium identical to last year’s. We can also see this as an illustration – forced or voluntary – of three nations: Russia, the United States, and Italy, which are much more combative against doping than they used to be. The same observation applies to Kenya, whose authorities have just avoided the country’s suspension from major international events. A particularity of this country, 4th in our ranking: 100% of the 29 cases revealed in 2022 come from athletics; mainly marathon and half-marathon specialists, the most lucrative events in athletics.

Mixed results for cyclists

Cycling also recorded 29 cases in 2022, but spread across 15 different countries. Combining sexes and disciplines, this is the second-worst score in eight years (after 2019). However, a closer analysis shows that, when limited to professional men (World teams and Pro teams), it is actually the lowest number (2 cases) ever recorded since the Festina affair!

The MPCC notes that while one of the two cases concerns Nairo Quintana (for the use of tramadol, a substance that led to his disqualification from the Tour de France by the UCI, but no suspension penalty), his team nevertheless remained in compliance with the rules of our movement, as the rider was immediately banned from competition by his Arkéa-Samsic team, which did not retain him in the squad at the end of the season. In compliance with very strict ethical rules, we should add that no MPCC member team subsequently agreed to sign the Colombian rider, and that this attitude seems to be becoming essential for everyone.

In 2022, the vast majority of doping procedures in high-level cycling concerned semi-professional male riders from continental road teams (12 cases). The Portuguese team W52-FC Porto was even dissolved after police revelations concerning probable organized doping.

None of the cases revealed among continental teams concern an MPCC member team. At the beginning of this year, the movement brings together 30 professional teams (men and women) for only 21 continental teams. The MPCC strongly encourages these semi-professional teams to join the MPCC cause, in order to place their ethics and credibility at the heart of our sport’s concerns.