UCI issues statement backing nighttime testing
Amid the ongoing controversy over intrusive late-night anti-doping testing, the Union Cycliste Internationale weighed in Wednesday affirming its support for the checks.
Jonny Long
"The UCI of course acknowledges that night-time testing can disrupt riders' rest and recovery, and wishes to reiterate that carrying out such controls outside normal hours remains an exceptional measure, reserved for limited and justified circumstances," the organization wrote in a statement. "While fully aware of how onerous such a measure is for riders, the UCI nevertheless underscores that these controls serve an overriding interest: the fight against doping."
The UCI underscored that it had given testing authority to the International Testing Agency in 2021 to ensure independence. "With this in mind, the UCI fully supports the ITA's use of every means at its disposal to carry out its mission as effectively as possible, in compliance, naturally, with the World Anti-Doping Code of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), UCI Regulations, and legislation applicable in each country for the conduct of controls (as in the present case, with the approval of the competent judge) and/or the gathering of intelligence," the statement read.
