2008 News Archive
2007 News Archive
Plowman Craven Evans Cycles Introduce Blood Passports
7th September 2007
On the eve of their first ride in the Tour of Britain, Plowman Craven Evans Cycles the leading UK-based professional cycling team, today unveiled a blood passport initiative as part of their commitment to the fight against doping in cycling.
Blood manipulation has been used in the past to improve cyclists' performance and effective tests have proved challenging. Plowman Craven Evans Cycles Race Clean initiative will systematically test their riders' haemoglobin and haematocrit levels on a regular basis to highlight any abnormalities over time. The results of the tests will be used to build a blood passport for each rider, providing an independent test history both for the Team and for riders to take with them as their career develops and they move on to new teams.
The independent tests will be carried out by Professor Greg Whyte and his team at Liverpool John Moores University in conjunction with the Olympic Medical Institute at Northwick Park Hospital, London.
Acceptable thresholds for haemoglobin or heamatocrit will be set and second generation blood tests will monitor riders' levels against those thresholds to create an individual blood passport. Plowman Craven Evans Cycles will enforce a range of penalties against any rider found with abnormal levels, including dismissal and repayment of salary.
Plowman Craven Evans Cycles are the first UK team to introduce blood passports which are in alignment with the creation of rider profiles outlined by the UCI as part of its anti-doping programme earlier in the year. The tests will be in addition to those carried out by national and international governing bodies in and out of competition.
Simon Barnes, team founder and boss of Hertfordshire based Geomatics company Plowman Craven, commented:
"Everyone involved with Plowman Craven Evans Cycles - riders, sponsors and management - are committed to the fight against doping in our sport. The Race Clean initiative is designed to promote and ensure drug free competition and to help restore confidence."
Though not definitive proof of whether or not a rider has doped, such tests can betray the tell-tale signs of blood manipulation. As such it forms the basis of the UCIs 100% Against Doping programme unveiled earlier this summer. At the moment the UCI programme does not cover continental registered teams like Plowman Craven Evans Cycles, although it is possible that continental teams may be included in the future. Race Clean will provide Plowman Craven Evans Cycles with a robust, stringent and independent testing programme which can fit straight into such a programme when available.
"The UCI certainly supports continental teams taking responsibility for the doping issue and implementing measures such as those announced by Plowman Craven Evans Cycles" said Anne Gripper, Manager of the UCIs Anti-Doping Programme.
Greg Whyte, Professor of Applied Sport and Exercise Science at Liverpool John Moores University, added:
"The doping scandals that appear to have become part and parcel of cycling coverage in recent years have damaged the reputation of both the sport and the athletes themselves. The Race Clean initiative is a major step forward. Such a strong anti-doping message from a professional sports team is rare, particularly in cycling, and represents a commitment from both team and riders to eradicate the disease that threatens to destroy the sport.
"The support of the sponsors for Race Clean is of particular importance as it represents a major step forward and sends the message that sponsors are not willing to accept a win at all cost approach."
Cycling commentator, and former President of the CTC, Phil Liggett also commended the Team's approach.
"There is a real grass roots revolution going on in the sport at the moment. Everyone involved in cycling, from sponsors to riders, want to demonstrate that doping is not the norm and an initiative like Race Clean will go a long way to restoring confidence."
Gordon McCauley explains why everyone on the Team - riders and staff - back the idea, and calls for life bans for those found guilty of cheating. Gordon also gives an insight into the dope-testing process in cycling - how and when the tests take place and what's involved. SImply follow the link below to hear the Gordon.
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