The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) released a statement welcoming a British parliamentary committee’s report on improving procedures governing therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) earlier this week.
The report, by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Select Committee, placed Team Sky and British Cycling under the spotlight.
The committee published their report into “Combating doping in sport” and the UCI claimed that the report – insofar as cycling was concerned – supported and reinforced their concerns about the potential abuse of TUEs, particularly with respect to corticosteroids.
Team Sky’s Bradley Wiggins in action during the 2012 Tour de France. Photo: William Morice (licensed)
The report, which was three years in the making, set out a detailed analysis of British Cycling and Team Sky.
“We wanted to know how British Cycling, as a national governing body, and Team Sky, as the then team of Sir Bradley Wiggins, ensured that the proper anti-doping procedures were being followed,” the report stated.
“We consider it important that, regardless of the nationality of athletes and teams, anti-doping rules are enforced consistently and fairly.”
With reference to a “well-placed and respected source regarding medicines policy”, the report concluded that Team Sky riders, including Bradley Wiggins, had been treated with corticosteroids ahead of the 2012 Tour de France. Wiggins subsequently won the overall title.
“With particular reference to Team Sky’s preparations for the 2012 season, Bradley Wiggins and a smaller group of riders trained separately from the rest of the team,” according to the report.
“The source said they were all using corticosteroids out of competition to lean down in preparation for the major races that season.
“This same source also states that Bradley Wiggins was using these drugs beyond the requirement for any TUE.”
The UCI said they shared the committee’s concerns about the use of corticosteroids and the painkiller Tramadol in cycling.
“As a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Code, the UCI are bound by the current prohibited list,” their statement read.
“However, the UCI have requested, and will continue to request, that the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) take additional steps in relation to corticosteroids and Tramadol.”
In December it emerged that Team Sky’s Chris Froome had been notified of an adverse analytical finding (AAF) during the Vuelta a España, where he had returned double the legal amount of the asthma medication, Salbutamol.
