Cycling’s anti-doping transition to the ITA on track

On Monday, 27 April 2020, a meeting between the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation (CADF), the International Testing Agency (ITA) and the main stakeholders in men’s professional road cycling (CPA, AIGCP, AIOCC) was held by video conference to discuss the transition of UCI’s anti-doping activities to the ITA as of 1 January 2021.

During that meeting CADF Director Mr. Olivier Banuls and ITA Director General Mr. Benjamin Cohen updated the parties on the progress of the preparatory work for the transition.

Mr. Cohen presented the strategy for the inclusion of the CADF as well as a detailed roadmap established to ensure a smooth transition of Cycling’s anti-doping program to the ITA with a particular focus on all human, legal, financial and operational aspects linked with this transition.

He underlined the establishment of a dedicated cycling unit within the ITA which will be mainly composed of current CADF personnel and will implement UCI’s future anti-doping program using their existing expertise, all the while benefiting from the expertise and support from all ITA departments.

The ITA is pleased that the Cycling families acknowledge the constructive collaboration between the three concerned organisations towards a harmonious implementation of this ambitious project, which will further strengthen the protection of clean riders.

Amid concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic and the state of anti-doping activities worldwide, this meeting was important to ensure that cycling remains at the forefront of the fight against doping and that joining forces with the ITA will decisively cement cycling’s prominent role in this area.

The agreement between ITA and UCI will be submitted for ratification at the next UCI Management Committee meeting in June 2020.