Why are riders protesting the timing of these specific doping controls?

Question

Accepted Answer

Riders are protesting because the night-time anti-doping tests wake them up and disrupt sleep
Tour riders are protesting overnight anti-doping controls because they say the timing interrupts their rest, with Tadej Pogacar describing the practice as “inhuman” even while supporting clean sport. Jonas Vingegaard, who crashed out after a night-time control, confirmed he was awoken at 2:00 am and said his sleep was disturbed, while Pogacar said testers came to his hotel at 5:00 am and that his sleep was also disrupted.
Vingegaard and Pogacar said the tests woke them up at specific early-morning times
The dispute intensified after Sunday morning reports that both Vingegaard and Pogacar were tested during the night. Vingegaard said he was awoken at 2:00 am, and Pogacar said testers arrived at 5:00 am, with both riders reporting disturbed sleep.
Riders linked the disruption of sleep to the wider protest against overnight controls
Multiple riders criticised the night-time testing for affecting their recovery during the Tour, with Matteo Jorgenson describing the situation as “furious” and calling it a “complete lack of respect for the riders.” Florian Vermeersch said the night-time testing was “almost inhuman and insane,” while Remco Evenepoel said the timing was something athletes “could not accept,” arguing that sleep is the only recovery moment at night and that disturbing it makes the race even harder.
The ITA defended night-time testing as required for an effective anti-doping programme
The International Testing Agency (ITA), responsible for the controls, defended night-time testing as essential under anti-doping rules. It said its “testing activities” are conducted under safeguards established under the World Anti-Doping Code, the UCI Anti-Doping Rules and French law, and it denied discarding “riders’ welfare, equity and fundamental rights.”
Vingegaard’s crash after an overnight test added urgency to the debate
The protest drew extra attention after Vingegaard crashed out with 20km left of Sunday’s 183.9km stage, from Champagnole in the Jura region to Plateau de Solaison in the Alps. While the ITA stressed that controls can occur 24 hours a day under the rules, the riders’ focus remained on the specific overnight timing and the sleep disruption they said it caused.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Why are riders protesting the timing of these specific doping controls?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends