May 13/11 8:45 am - L’Equipe Publishes UCI "Suspicion" List

Posted by Editoress on 05/13/11
 

In this morning’s L’Equipe  a list was published showing an internal UCI ranking of riders according to levels of “suspicion” relating to strange [testing result] values gathered under the bio passport scheme. The higher the score, the greater the suspicion. The list was formulated by the UCI on the eve of the 2010 Tour de France.

• The scores are based on data gathered from the bio passport scheme.
• Some riders and teams get tested more than others, based on the level of suspicion.
• The good news is that so many riders seem beyond suspicion

Michael Barry received a 0 (out of 10) ranking
Ryder Hesjedal received a 1 (out of 10) ranking

View the list

The UCI, Cycling's governing body admitted on Friday to drawing up a list in which it had estimated the 'doping risk' of each rider at the 2010 Tour de France but regretted the document had been made public.

French sports daily L'Equipe unveiled the doping suspicion index, in which riders are given a rating of suspicion scaling from 0 - not suspicious - to 10 - highly suspicious.

The UCI said the list is a working document helping to steer testing, not a list of riders who have done any wrongdoing.

UCI spokesman Enrico Carpani told The Associated Press "the list exists, yes, we haven't hidden that."

He says it was meant as a "working tool" to support the drug-testing process.

Carpani says the UCI will issue a statement later Friday.

The average index of the 198 riders from the 2010 Tour de France is 2.434.

The index is a summary from the riders biological passport's data and a blood test carried out on July 1, two days before the start of the Tour.

UCI president Pat McQuaid declined to further comment.