More and more amateur cyclists who compete on the home scene are being dope tested, and that looks likely to continue.
The last couple of seasons have seen an increase in the number of doping tests carried out on amateur cyclists who compete on the domestic road race scene.
For many years, dope testing occurred only at the highest level in Ireland, most notably on the Rás which is a UCI ranked event.
- Irish rider banned for four years after positive test for clenbuterol
- Now British Masters road race champ is banned for drug use
- Gran Fondo winner stripped of victory after testing positive for drugs
However, with the UCI's Cycling Independent Reform Commission report on doping in the sport having flagged a drugs problem at amateur level, the Irish Sports Council - or Sport Ireland as it is now known - decided to carry out more tests on domestic events.
And even before that report was published, the organisation has not limit itself to the top events; testing riders on the Gorey Three Day, for example, which is not open to A1 riders.
Advertisement
The fact those tests yielded a positive result in one case last year, coupled with news that British junior and masters riders have tested positive as well as some competing in Gran Fondo events, the testing of amateur cyclists in Ireland looks set to increase.
Most riders on the home scene won't have undergone a dope test before.
Related News
Sport Ireland has produced this useful short video, below, to show you how it all works.
It's well worth a look and even if you feel you don't fall in the category of rider likely to be tested, it is probable that testers will show up at domestic events and choose riders at random to test during the coming season.
How dope tests work
Topics
