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UCI clarifies number of suspicious doping tests

Jan 27, 2009, 11:46 GMT

Aigle, Switzerland - The International Cycling Union (UCI) has contradicted Australian scientist Robin Parisotto's claim that samples taken from over 30 cyclists have returned suspicious results and there was enough evidence to pursue some for doping violations.

'These statements do not correspond exactly to what an in-depth analysis by the UCI experts has established is the present situation,' said cycling's ruling body in a statement released Tuesday.

'A first selection resulted in a number of profiles that could be qualified as abnormal' and which required further attention from the experts.

'A thorough examination by the experts of these profiles resulted in a number being considered as not suspect, based on indications that the abnormal profile may have arisen due to reasons other than doping.'

The UCI revealed that since January 2008 it had collected approximately 8,300 blood samples which were integrated into the biological passports of 804 riders.

'It has taken time before enough samples were collected in order to build a profile for each rider which was elaborate enough for drawing conclusions,' the UCI said.

Parisotto, who sits on the UCI panel overseeing the anti-doping program, told Germany's ARD television station Sunday that more than 30 suspicious samples had been analysed with enough evidence to pursue some cyclists for doping violations.

The UCI said that while many of these results may have arisen due to reasons other than doping, others justified further investigation.

'There were other profiles which justified immediate target testing with normal doping controls and/or the collection of further blood samples for completing the profile in order to exclude any uncertainties,' said the UCI.

'A small number of profiles is now under further scrutiny following high scientific and legal standards.'