PARIS, (Reuters) – The leak of a confidential “doping suspicion list” of riders was completely unacceptable but the tool could be useful, International Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid said yesterday.
French sports daily L’Equipe got hold of the list, which has angered riders and prompted probes into the leak by the UCI and World Anti-Doping Agency.
“I understand the discontent of the riders and their entourage about the leak, which I also consider as completely unacceptable,” McQuaid said in an open letters to riders.
“But I frankly find it difficult to share their surprise and indignation at the content of the document where it is also taking into account the data of the blood passport.”
The UCI has been using an unpopular biological passport scheme where riders’ data from various doping tests are compared and contrasted.
“Our objective has never been to create lists of suspects, but rather to provide ourselves with the most effective tool possible to optimise our resources,” McQuaid said.
“The battle against doping has, for a long time, been a priority for the UCI, even to the extent that it could sometimes be considered to be over emphasised in our sport. Yet it must be admitted that the reality of the situation does not allow us to act otherwise.
“I make no apologies for the fact that UCI will continue to take every measure possible to protect clean athletes.
