11 member teams subjected 88 riders to cortisol level tests on the Vuelta. All the riders have been allowed to start.
On the Vuelta, 11 member teams registered for the race submitted 88 riders to cortisol level tests as part of their commitment to the Movement for a Credible Cycling (MPCC):
– AG2R La Mondiale
– Bora-Hansgrohe
– Burgos-BH
– Caja Rural – Seguros RGA
– Cofidis Solutions Crédit
– Dimension Data
– EF Education First
– Euskadi Basque Country
– Groupama-FDJ
– Lotto-Soudal
– Sunweb
These voluntary tests have been performed under the auspices of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) on all participants. The UCI has forwarded to the MPCC the results of all riders of the member teams. All results were in compliance with the standard established by MPCC members. The Board notes with satisfaction that the riders of these MPCC member teams registered for the Vuelta have scrupulously respected the clauses of their standing orders.
Background on cortisol tests by the Mouvement pour un Cyclisme Crédible (MPCC)
The objective of the MPCC and its member teams is to contribute to restoring the credibility of cycling. One of the organisation’s activities are voluntary cortisol tests amongst the riders of the member teams of the MPCC. In case the results of the test present an abnormally low value, the rider concerned will not race for a period of minimum eight days until the cortisol value has recovered again above that minimum value.
For the sake of clarity, the test is based on a voluntary norm. This is not an anti-doping control. Under WADA rules applied in all sports, athletes with an abnormally low cortisol level are entitled to perform their sport in competition (unless an anti-doping test has revealed the unauthorized use of the cortisol hormone).
The reason why MPCC member teams have decided to implement this voluntary norm – below which the rider is prevented from competition for a minimum 8-day period – is confirm its commitment to a clean sport as cycling and MPCC member teams wish to be frontrunners in this fight.
Why cortisol tests ?
Although cortisol hormones are an allowed medicine when pre-scribed by a physician, the use of that medicine has frequently been abused in the history of sports (including in cycling) for the purpose of increasing the performance. Besides, a low level of cortisol can potentially endanger the health of athletes in certain circumstances when he/she is in competition while the athletes perform under high intensity or under stress.
For both reasons and with the objective to contribute to restoring the credibility of cycling, the Mouvement pour un Cyclisme Crédible and its member teams have introduced that voluntary norm below which its riders will temporarily withdraw from competition.