The Movement for Credible Cycling (MPCC) has called for a tougher fight against blood doping, calling the current situation 'mafia' like. In an open letter submitted to the UCI, it underlined ways in which the fight against blood doping could be improved in the wake of the Operation Aderlass scandal.
The group also revealed that Groupama-FDJ team boss Marc Madiot and Team Sunweb manager Iwan Spekenbrink met banned rider Georg Preidler, who was caught in the Aderlass operation, to further understand the practices of a doping individual.
The MPCC started the letter by criticising the current approach to out-of-competition testing writing that it 'wanted to draw the UCI’s attention on the necessity to increase the number of blood tests, especially outside of competition.
'This proposition relies on the information we gathered, which hints on the existence of mafia doping protocols outside of the teams’ structures.'
Off the back of discussion with Preidler, the MPCC has also asked for out-of-competition testing to take place closer to the start and finish of races with an increased vigilance on riders taking long breaks during the middle of the season.
The MPCC then addressed comments from UCI president David Lappartient and WADA president Witold Banka, who both defended their testing polices, by writing:
'While maintaining its full confidence in the UCI on the fight against blood doping, MPCC wants to remind that none of the riders who were part of the Aderlass operation were ever tested positive. These unfortunate revelations came from the police’s hard work only.'
Beyond blood doping, the MPCC also called for 'a formal enquiry to open regarding the alleged use of a “powder” (Aicar-based?) that could be used by some teams or riders on the final parts of races.'
The drinkable substance enhances muscle while burning fat and is believed to have been used by athletes at the 2019 Tour de France after a series of tipoffs.
The MPCC was established in 2007 as a group of professional cycling teams adhering to a stricter set of doping rules and ethics.
Currently, seven WorldTour teams are members: AG2R La Mondiale, Team NTT, Lotto-Soudal, Team Sunweb, Groupama-FDJ, Education First and Cofidis.
Team Ineos, Jumbo Visma and Deceuninck-QuickStep are among the teams who are not part of the group.