Credibility figures: a difficult 2023 for sport in general

On the occasion of the 2023 “Credibility Figures” report, the MPCC notes the thirty or so doping cases revealed in our sport. Despite this stable figure compared to 2022, the group reiterates that it is more legitimate than ever in the fight against doping.

Source: Press Release

The book of 2023 closed a few days ago with a clear observation: doping cases revealed in high-level sport, whether by police investigations, journalists, anti-doping bodies independent of international federations, or national anti-doping agencies, are on the rise. Last year, the MPCC recorded 620 doping cases in high-level sport, compared to 587 in 2022, an increase of approximately 6%.

Certain sports are affected by this increase: athletics, still at the top of the list, with 151 cases (compared to 133 in 2022) revealed by national agencies, the press, or the AIU (Athletics Integrity Unit); and MMA (15 compared to 12), violently shaken by scandals involving some of its stars (Usman Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor) and notably the end of the collaboration between USADA, the American anti-doping agency, and the UFC, the world’s largest MMA league, effective since January 1.

The scourge of doping is also beginning to emerge in India, one of the most cited countries in 2023 cases and marked by surreal scenes of athletes fleeing, substituting for urine tests during the Delhi State regional championship last September.

Finally, the case of football (45 cases compared to 17) must be put into perspective since we also note cases of sports fraud. On November 16, the Professional Football League (LFP) published a list of several dozen players sentenced to suspension matches (firm or suspended) and fines for bets (prohibited by the Sports Code) made during the 2022-2023 season. The culprits are mainly young aspirants (18 to 23 years old) playing in Ligue 1, Ligue 2, and National 1 clubs.

A stable number of cases in cycling

And in this deleterious climate for clean high-level sport, cycling deplored 28 doping cases, a level more or less similar to that of 2022 (29 cases). However, 2023 was marked by four cases involving World Tour riders:

2 retroactive positive tests

– Miguel Angel Lopez, whose test dated back to the preparatory period for the 2022 Giro d’Italia
– Robert Stannard, notified of an “anti-doping rule violation” by the UCI in June but for an incriminating period dating back to the 2018 and 2019 seasons

And:

– Michel Hessman, suspended by his team for a positive test for a diuretic
– Alex Baudin, tested positive by the UCI for Tramadol during the last edition of the Giro d’Italia and disqualified from the event

It should also be noted that Tramadol has only been on WADA’s list of prohibited substances since January 1, 2024.

During the movement’s general assembly on October 23, the MPCC rightly recalled that the suspicious climate surrounding our sport was still latent. The major teams dominating the World Tour that are not members of the movement are once again invited to join it and play an active role in the fight against doping. The MPCC remains open to everyone: riders, managers, coaching staff, rider agents, or supporters of our sport. But it commits to respecting strict and necessary rules for high-level cycling to remain credible. It is essential to be an actor in the fight against doping, which the MPCC has done by carrying out regular cortisol tests; by pushing for the prohibition of Tramadol, added to WADA’s list of prohibited substances since January 1; by promoting the action of the ITA (International Testing Agency), etc.

Two-thirds of professional men’s teams trust the MPCC’s voluntary approach, and the movement also strongly encourages actors in women’s cycling to join it so that this new year is marked by strengthened credibility with the general public, supporters, and partners.