The French Cycling Federation (FFC), Movement for a Credible Cycling (MPCC) and French National Cycling League (LNC) have decided that they will keep controlling randomly cortisol levels of members of the MPCC’s riders. This medical examination comes with the Reglementary Medical Supervision, as it is stated by the medical rules of the French Cycling Federation. Whenever the cortisol levels are underneath the laboratory limit, a medical contraindiciation with immediate effect must be delivered. FFC, LNC and MPCC have agreed to apply the french medical rules. This sanitary examination is part of the measures aiming at protecting the riders’ health, and is not part of the disciplinary antidoping measures.
In 2013, blood samples were taken on Paris-Nice, 4 Days of Dunkirk, the Criterium du Dauphiné and the Tour de France. On the Tour de France, the samples were taken on Juliy 12nd in Tours and July 18th in the morning of the Alpe d’Huez stage. This examination related to all the riders of the 5 french teams (Foreign and French riders from AG2R, Cofidis, Europcar, FDJ.fr and Sojasun), all the french riders from foreign teams and all the riders fro the 9 foreign teams of the Tour de France which are members of MPCC (Argos, Astana, Belkin, Garmin-Sharp, Katusha, Lampre Merida, Lotto Belisor Orica-Greenedge and Vacansoleil). 61 samples were taken on July 12nd and 53 on July 18th. In the end, 114 riders were controlled, and no low cortisol levels has been noticed.
Made in l’Alpe d’Huez, Thursday, July 18th
David LAPPARTIENT, president of FFC
Marc MADIOT, president of LNC
Roger LEGEAY, president of MPCC
Dr Armand MEGRET, expert