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Every day, we’re learning more about the nighttime doping test involving Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar. It turns out that they weren’t the only riders who were pulled out of bed, and that the French courts were also involved. Where exactly is this process headed? Giro d'Italia winner Tom Dumoulin takes a closer look at the latest developments.
Normally, a rider may not be tested between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. The only exception is if the anti-doping agency has serious suspicions about the athletes. The ITA (International Testing Agency) remained vague, but we learned via L'Équipe that the French judicial authority was involved in the proceedings.
This adds a whole new dimension to the situation. “That doesn’t sound good,” Dumoulin responds during on Dutch TV. “Normally, you’re tested between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Not really outside those hours. To my knowledge, there have been no instances of testing outside those times.” According to the rules, the fact that testing took place outside the normal hours indicates suspicion.
Oliver Naesen had previously reported that the inspectors were looking for growth hormones. “It’s possible that they suspect there’s a doping product on the market that you can take, say, at 11:30 p.m., and that it’s no longer detectable the next morning,” the Dutchman said. “I think that would be the reason.”
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Dumoulin explains the checks: 'Good for credibility'
It’s a precarious situation for the sport of cycling, but Dumoulin is turning things around. “If they don’t find anything now, that would be incredibly good for the credibility of cycling. Then guys like Pogačar and Vingegaard will be tested throughout the entire Tour de France—even at night. If nothing is found, that’s actually a good sign,” explains the former world time trial champion.
Roxane Knetemann had previously stated that she thought it was more of a publicity stunt, if the goal was to enhance the sport’s credibility. “We have no idea if this is just for show,” Dumoulin says. “So this is allowed, but I didn’t know it required judicial intervention. But either way, this is big news.”
The situation could also be a sign from the doping inspectors. “Maybe it’s a warning shot fired by the anti-doping agency. Like, ‘Guys, watch out.’ We have the ability to test you at night, and we could just show up at your door at 3 a.m. I’m really curious to see if there will be an explanation,” the Dutchman concludes.
