In the interests of transparency and to avoid any misunderstandings, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) wishes to restate some basic principles applying to anti-doping proceedings.
A more detailed overview of the UCI Anti-Doping programme is available in the Clean Sport section of the UCI website.
What are the applicable rules?
Anti-doping in cycling is governed by the UCI Anti-Doping Rules and the list of prohibited substances established by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The UCI Anti-Doping Rules mirror the World Anti-Doping Code (WADA Code). As a signatory of the WADA Code, the UCI is required to use the WADA Code without substantial changes, in particular with respect to the definition of the anti-doping offences, provisional suspension, sanctions and communication.
What is an Adverse Analytical Finding?
An Adverse Analytical Finding is when the analysis of a rider’s sample reveals the presence of a prohibited substance or the use of a prohibited method. An Adverse Analytical Finding is not necessarily an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.
What is an Anti-Doping Rule Violation?
The WADA Code and the UCI Anti-Doping Rules foresee several Anti-Doping Rule Violations.
In the case of an Adverse Analytical Finding, the relevant Anti-Doping Rule Violation is the “presence of a prohibited substance or method”. Other Anti-Doping Rule Violations are:
What are the different stages of the procedure and who is involved?
What is a provisional suspension?
The provisional suspension means that a rider is suspended even before a final decision is made (either by Acceptance of Consequences or by decision of the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal). In accordance with the WADA Code, the UCI Anti-Doping Rules provide a dual regime for the imposition of a provisional suspension, which depends mainly on the nature of the substance found in the rider’s sample:
In both cases, the period of provisional suspension served will be deducted from the suspension eventually imposed.
How is the sanction determined?
Under the UCI Anti-Doping Rules, and in accordance with the WADA Code, the level of the sanction for an Anti-Doping Rule Violation ranges from a reprimand to a 4-year ban depending on the nature of the substance for which the rider tested positive and the specific circumstances of the case, in particular the rider’s level of fault or negligence and willingness to provide substantial assistance to discover other Anti-Doping Rule Violations.
What are the UCI’s communication rules and policy concerning anti-doping?
When a rider is provisionally suspended, the UCI updates the table of “Licence holders provisionally suspended” published on its website. When it considers justified under the circumstances, it also publishes a press release announcing the rider’s provisional suspension. In all cases, as required by WADA, the UCI issues a press release once the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal has rendered its decision.
In cases where there is no provisional suspension, the UCI issues a press release only if the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal finds that the rider has committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation. If the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal acquits the rider, the latter has a right to ask that the decision is not publicly disclosed. If the existence of the Adverse Analytical Finding is made public by another party before the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal renders its decision, the UCI issues a short statement confirming the existence of the Adverse Analytical Finding, the substance that was found and clarifying that the rider is not provisionally suspended.
The decisions of the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal and the CAS award rendered on appeal against such decisions are available in full on the UCI website.