Mum's the word after DNA meeting in Geneva

By Tim Maloney, European Editor

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport's Luigi Perna, not much information came out of Friday's four hour meeting in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss imposing DNA testing on the pro peloton. On hand for the parlay at a Geneva airport hotel were UCI ProTour coordinator Alain Rumpf and attorney Philippe Verbiest, as well as UCI medical staff Dr. Mario Zorzoli and Anne Gripper and pro team association prexy Patrick Lefévère. The pro riders' association was represented by attorney Rocco Taminelli, secretary Daniel Malabranque and rider Cédric Vasseur, who rides for Lefèvre's Quick.Step-Innergetic squad. After the meeting, Rumpf told La Gazzetta's Perna that "it was a first step and our discussion was held in a good atmosphere with a positive dialogue. I can't say if one side or the other has to give up their position. The objective is to find a common solution. But before we can do that, we need the teams and riders to be on board."

Professional Riders Association secretary Daniel Malabranque explained the riders' position, saying "the riders are worried about how their genetic data could be used in the future. The majority of riders are saying 'no' to DNA testing. The teams know that legally, they cannot force riders to take DNA tests and have even admitted that this has not been clearly communicated by the teams to the riders."

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Attorney Taminelli added, "we have to see if it even makes sense to do (DNA testing). For example, in Italy, it's not possible to perform this kind of test, so we need some expert advice to see if according to European law, what the limits of imposing DNA tests are. But it won't be something that the teams will impose on the riders." No word on when a follow-up meeting on DNA testing for the pro peloton might happen, so the controversy will likely continue until some accord can be reached between the UCI, pro teams and riders.