The International Testing Agency is looking into power testing as an anti-doping tool
The International Testing Agency (ITA) said in a statement on Tuesday that it "is conducting a two-year feasibility and pilot study exploring whether longitudinal analysis of professional cyclists’ power data could contribute as a supplementary intelligence tool for anti-doping purposes in cycling." The announcement of the study comes a little over a year after the UCI approved an initial plan to look into using power data for anti-doping purposes.
According to the ITA, which manages testing for cycling and other sports, Picnic-PostNL, Jayco-AlUla, Visma-Lease a Bike, and Decathlon-CMA CGM are among the teams that have already committed to participating in the study.
“Power data has been part of the conversation in cycling for many years," said ITA Director General Benjamin Cohen. "It is one of the sport’s most widely used performance tools, yet until now its potential contribution to anti-doping has remained largely unexplored. Thanks to the commitment of riders, teams and recognised experts, we now have the opportunity to assess its potential through a structured scientific process and determine whether it can meaningfully complement the anti-doping toolbox in the future."
