UCI launches anti-doping foundation

Cycling's international governing body Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has formally launched its Anti-Doping Foundation. The foundation, which was approved in principal at the UCI Management Committee's meeting in Treviso, Italy during January, is aimed at increasing the resources available to the anti-doping campaign.

Governed by Swiss legislation, the foundation's board is chaired by UCI president Pat McQuaid. Also on the board is Denmark's Messrs Peder Pedersen, France's Daniel Baal, Protugal's Artur Lopes and South African George Ruijsch Van Dugteren.

The foundation has been allocated a budget of 5 million Euro per year, which will be used to optimise the practical and scientific aspects of the UCI's anti-doping activities by developing new synergies. To ensure transparency of the organization a contributors' committee has been established, which will be spearheaded by former Tour de France second in charge Daniel Baal. The former ASO employee will be joined by yet to be named representative from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), organisers, teams, riders and other parties.

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The organization has already held its first meeting where an assessment of the UCI's "100% against doping" programme, now three quarters complete, showed it had completed 4,367 in-competition and 1,077 out-of-competition tests. Since the introduction of the biological passport system this season 464 unannounced out-of-competition tests have been conducted.

The UCI Anti-Doping Foundation will have its headquarters at the World Cycling Centre in Aigle, Switzerland. UCI Anti-Doping Department manager Anne Gripper will coordinate the foundation's activities, assisted by seven full-time members of staff.

A release from the UCI reported that riders from 14 teams are providing information on their whereabouts under the ADAMS programme (Anti-Doping Administration & Management System). It said the procedure has been streamlined by the introduction of a SMS update function.