The international cycling teams association will adopt new stringent measures which could see entire teams being barred from races in the event of positive doping tests.
Currently, in accordance with International Cycling Union (UCI) rules, riders who test positive during a race are suspended while a test is carried out on a second sample.
However while the rider faces potential sanctions, his team is allowed to continue the race. After a summer of doping allegations and American Floyd Landis’s positive test for testosterone following his victory on the Tour de France, however, a new offensive has been launched against the cheats.
The UCI is ready to launch an ambitious audit of the sport, and is studying the possibility of obliging riders to submit DNA samples.
The fight against doping was reinforced on Saturday when the International Professional Cycling Teams (IPCT) body accepted changes to the UCI Pro Tour rules concerning doping.
Teams have agreed that as of January 2007, they will automatically suspend their participation in a race if one or several of their riders tests positive or returns an abnormal test.
A statement from the IPCT said: ”In the event that a team is confronted with several positive tests or abnormal readings from tests from riders, the team will automatically suspend its activity.” – Sapa-AFP