http://nos.nl/artikel/469383-aantal-tests-uci-sterk-gedaald.html
The number of doping tests from the UCI has fallen sharply in recent years
NOS
The UCI has in recent years performed much less doping controls than intended.
For financial reasons, the number of out-of-competition controls blood tests of 6,711 in 2009 dropped to 2,947 in 2010. In 2011 there were 3,014 inspections.
Mid-June 2010 it was decided in a meeting that the budget would go from 8.4 million Swiss francs (6.3 million euros) to 4.1 million (3,000,000). According to a document of the UCI in the hands of the dutch news (NOS). The UCI did not respond to questions from the NOS.
The number of checks dropped from nearly 7,000 in 2009 to less than 3,000 in 2010. Because the reliability of the blood passport depends on as many controls as possible, this drastic decline opens the door for cyclists who want to evade control. It is made easy for them, as the number of checks is more than halved.
Less checks for older riders
The lack of financial means in the UCI, makes the biomedical passport (commonly called blood passport) essentially useless. It also shows the UCI is focussing on controlling young riders due to the lack of proper funding. 'Older' riders are deliberatly controlled less - as evidenced by the UCI document -.
The UCI started with the control of blood passports in 2007. In that year, 406 riders were checked out-of-competition ". In subsequent years, the number of inspections rose from 4,649 in 2008 to 6,711 in 2009. At that time the federation however was forced to rethink its steps, because the budget for the doping controls was rapidly running out.
In 2010, the UCI halved the budget for doping controls. Thus the number dropped to 2,947 tests. A year later, in 2011, the number of checks practically equal: 3014.
Platoon knew of reduced checks
Already in 2011, Gérard Vroomen, former manager of the Cervelo cycling team said: the number of checks in 2010 is much less compared to before. He hears from riders that they are barely checked, and writes this on his blog. This results in an angry statement from the UCI, which labels Vroomen's comments as "misleading" and "irresponsible".
Iwan Spekenbrink, manager of Argos-Shimano, now admits that the number of checks has indeed been drastically reduced. Some riders of his team were in 2012 only checked twice. "The fewer controls, the less reliable the blood passport. We need much more checks, if we want the sport doping free."
Passport in other sports
The blood passport was introduced in 2000 by several international sports federations to monitor athletes hematocrit values. Too strong a deviation allowed for the athlete to be suspended. Cycling followed in 2008.
Claudia Pechstein (skating), Franco Pellizotti and Igor Astarloa (both cycling) are some athletes that were suspended for abnormal values in the passport .
The number of doping tests from the UCI has fallen sharply in recent years
NOS
The UCI has in recent years performed much less doping controls than intended.
For financial reasons, the number of out-of-competition controls blood tests of 6,711 in 2009 dropped to 2,947 in 2010. In 2011 there were 3,014 inspections.
Mid-June 2010 it was decided in a meeting that the budget would go from 8.4 million Swiss francs (6.3 million euros) to 4.1 million (3,000,000). According to a document of the UCI in the hands of the dutch news (NOS). The UCI did not respond to questions from the NOS.
The number of checks dropped from nearly 7,000 in 2009 to less than 3,000 in 2010. Because the reliability of the blood passport depends on as many controls as possible, this drastic decline opens the door for cyclists who want to evade control. It is made easy for them, as the number of checks is more than halved.
Less checks for older riders
The lack of financial means in the UCI, makes the biomedical passport (commonly called blood passport) essentially useless. It also shows the UCI is focussing on controlling young riders due to the lack of proper funding. 'Older' riders are deliberatly controlled less - as evidenced by the UCI document -.
The UCI started with the control of blood passports in 2007. In that year, 406 riders were checked out-of-competition ". In subsequent years, the number of inspections rose from 4,649 in 2008 to 6,711 in 2009. At that time the federation however was forced to rethink its steps, because the budget for the doping controls was rapidly running out.
In 2010, the UCI halved the budget for doping controls. Thus the number dropped to 2,947 tests. A year later, in 2011, the number of checks practically equal: 3014.
Platoon knew of reduced checks
Already in 2011, Gérard Vroomen, former manager of the Cervelo cycling team said: the number of checks in 2010 is much less compared to before. He hears from riders that they are barely checked, and writes this on his blog. This results in an angry statement from the UCI, which labels Vroomen's comments as "misleading" and "irresponsible".
Iwan Spekenbrink, manager of Argos-Shimano, now admits that the number of checks has indeed been drastically reduced. Some riders of his team were in 2012 only checked twice. "The fewer controls, the less reliable the blood passport. We need much more checks, if we want the sport doping free."
Passport in other sports
The blood passport was introduced in 2000 by several international sports federations to monitor athletes hematocrit values. Too strong a deviation allowed for the athlete to be suspended. Cycling followed in 2008.
Claudia Pechstein (skating), Franco Pellizotti and Igor Astarloa (both cycling) are some athletes that were suspended for abnormal values in the passport .
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