UCI Management Committee see the light?

In January 2009 Bike Pure first proposed to the UCI, that in order to break the cycle of endemic doping, those caught cheating must incur a lifetime ban from working in cyclesport. When a rider chooses to dope or is pressured to do so, he gives up the right to earn a living from the sport he has damaged and lost respect for. The right at the end of his/her career in management or team support must also be removed.

Bike Pure believe that riders/ team staff who have chosen the path of drugs to succeed during their own career should not mentor young athletes. Breaking the knowledge cycle. It is not ok to dope.

Today in Masstricht, the UCI Management Committee voted for measures that would prevent anyone who has violated the sport’s anti-doping regulations to be employed in the sport. This is the power of our athlete and fan based organisation. If we shout, petition and keep shouting, eventually the decision makers of the world will listen. This is the 6th proposal that has been adopted into law.

It will be introduced on July 1, meaning that anyone found guilty of infringing anti-doping regulations after that date would be banned from working in the sport and will not be applied retrospectively.

Bike Pure are delighted that this is in wording, exactly what we were campaigning for and is undoubtedly a step forward from the current situation. Yet there are loop holes within the new regulation number 1.1.006.2 raises some important issues, Bike Pure recommend reading VeloNation’s article on the new proposal.

The UCI also ratified the introduction of article 364bis into its Anti-Doping Regulation, which from now on makes the teams responsible for the total costs generated by each doping affair. The costs are currently born by the UCI.

Read the full UCI press release here.