After last and this year’s numerous doping cases the international Cycling Union (UCI) applied and implemented a regulation which states that each cyclist needs to have an official blood passport. Right after the anti doping meeting in Paris, which took place from the 22nd to the 23rd of October; French minister of sports Roselyne Bachelot - hostess, World Association UCI Chief Pat McQuaid and the World-Anti Doping Agency chief Richard Pound signed a declaration for the accomplishment of the passport. The UCI therefore is the first federation to implement such paper.
This document will contain the results of various blood and urine controls and a steroids profile of each cyclist, among others five different blood levels such as: Hematocrit, Hemoglobin and Reticulocytes. Due to the individualization there won’t be a fixed limit for the Hematocrit anymore; additionally, the passport will provide with a profile of each cyclist where it will be calculated the average value for each cyclist to set individual limits.
Another important aspect of this innovation is the possibility to indirectly declare appropriate blood transfusions. Up to this point, there hasn’t been a procedure that could detect blood abnormalities. In addition the UCI wants to increase the controls up to ten blood samples and four urine samples plus the contest dope tests.
This control will be in place for the first time next year at the Tour de France and it will be mandatory for each cyclist and without this passport the participation will be impossible. An independent commission of experts shall detect conspicuous blood and urine levels. To make this possible, the UCI hopes to start to collect data at the beginning of next year.
So far it is not clear if the passport could also be used as a base for doping cases an eventual blockings, but the UCI and the world anti doping agency are working to make the passport juristically accepted.
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Emeli Dean is a high-ranking writer on sports for the sports betting industry.
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Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:21:23 - 100%
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