ITA rejects accusations of favoritism in anti-doping tests
The International Testing Agency has responded to accusations that its controversial nighttime testing at the Tour de France has favored certain riders. Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious) said he was among those tested before 6 am and called out what he said was selective testing that appeared to favor French contender Paul Seixas.
"It would be good to guarantee equal treatment for everyone," he said. "After all, we know that this French rider, who is well placed in the general classification, didn’t undergo that [night-time] test." As a matter of protocol to respect anonymity of those tested, anti-doping authorities almost never comment on who has been tested, making it impossible to verify or falsify Mohorič's claim about late-night tests unless Seixas or his Decathlon-CMA CGM team choose to comment. (According to media reports, the ITA tested every rider in the race on Monday's rest day, but inside normal testing hours of 6 am to 11 pm.)
But the ITA rejected the overall accusation of favoritism in a public statement to The Guardian. "The ITA is responsible for the strategy of the anti-doping programme for the Tour de France, not the AFLD [the French anti-doping agency - Ed.]," the agency told The Guardian. "We have our own sample collection personnel for the doping controls."
The ITA said its testing decisions are based on factors like risk assessments, intelligence, bio-passport analysis and other evidence but that it operates free of external influence. "AFLD might occasionally support the ITA with additional sample collection personnel, if needed, for instance during the testing mission on Monday evening but the decision who is tested when remains with the ITA," the statement said.
