If you though the UCI was getting control of doping...

[Flying_Monkey]

... you'd be remarkably naive.

One of the many interesting things about this article on the recent Tour of Borneo, is that not only was there clear performance evidence of doping and not for the first time from Iranian Tabriz Petrochemical team, there was absolutely no doping control. And even when the UCI has conducted doping control in other MTB races and road races on the Asia Tour, it has mostly been urine not blood testing. This is not limited to the Asia either. I have seen similar things from the other continental tours.

It seems that, whatever Pat McQuaid says, the UCI is not really making a lot of effort in detecting doping except at the World Tour level, and that's largely, I suspect, because of media visibility. And please, not posts saying 'yes but sports X, Y and Z are worse' - there's another thread for that, and it's not the point here at all. In many ways, the UCI seems to be going backwards on doping controls.

 

[The Couch]

... In many ways, the UCI seems to be going backwards on doping controls.

I guess you missed my earlier post :

No way... that could never happen... the UCI is very strict in their doping testing, it says so on their website:

The International Cycling Union considers riders’ health and the promotion of sporting ethics as high priorities.
Its anti-doping programme is now recognised by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as one of the best in the world.

...I guess there must be a reason why you don't see much "Tabriz Petrochemical" riding around in the Belgian races

 

[ufkacbln]

I though that the "performance evidence was being seen as less reliable and insufficient

For example, the performance figures of Froome were quoted during the TdF, and shown to be misleading.

There certainly needs to be a more stringent, uniform and standard of testing across the board, but we are still unfortunately in the stages where proof is needed and performance evidence is not it.

Secondly the use of "Sporting Ethics" is shrewd (if used properly) as it is a clause which can deal with those riders using drugs that are not yet banned to gain an unfair advantage.

 

[festival]

So the UCI decide not to send any anti doping inspectors to a race in Borneo, which I believe is part of Malaysia. The same country that thinks Mcquaid is worthy of re election. Funny that.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

The Malaysian federation has said that 'next time' there will be doping controls... the UCI has still made no public comment. I'm still amazed that UCI regs don't actually require doping controls in this level of race.

 

[Davidc]

I have no confidence in the UCI over anything. This just reinforces my views.