Doping controls are starting to make an appearance in amateur “event” rides. Just got this announcement via email today. Thought provoking, eh?
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(New York, NY May 2, 2013) On April 29, 2013, Gran Fondo New York, Inc. renewed the agreement with the United States Anti-Doping Association (USADA) to conduct doping controls at this year’s Campagnolo Gran Fondo New York on May 19.
Gran Fondo New York’s CEO Uli Fluhme stated: “We continue to being 100% committed to a drug free sport. For this year’s event we allocated $15,000 towards the fight against doping. Anyone testing positive for a substance on the list of banned substances by World Anti Doping Association (WADA) will be banned for life from Campagnolo Gran Fondo New York and also have to reimburse the cost of the doping control and any damages to GFNY’s reputation resulting thereof.”
6,000 athletes from 48 US States and over 70 countries are competing on the 105-mile course. The winners receive an $8,000 Pinarello racing bike equipped with Campagnolo components. Other prizes include Campagnolo racing wheels, San Marco saddles, Limar helmets and more.
The anti-doping controls to be conducted by USADA include out of competition and in competition testing of competing riders. Details of the testing methods will not be provided because surprise is one of the key elements of a meaningful testing system. The primary goal of age group testing is not catching the cheaters. It is about deterring dopers from competing.
“Doping is an unfortunate reality at all levels of competition,” says USADA COO John Frothingham. “At USADA, we preserve the value and integrity of athletic competition through initiatives that prevent, deter and detect violations of true sport. We’re glad to partner with Gran Fondo New York to help clean athletes have a fair race.”
Fluhme adds: “Race organizers who put on events that invite fierce competition have an obligation to do their part to provide fair racing conditions. A race needs rules, otherwise it becomes a free for all, the competition becomes a farce and consequently utterly pointless. It’s time that organizers of large competitive endurance events step up and perform doping controls among amateurs. If there are no controls, the organizers essentially permit doping and disadvantage the vast majority of athletes who are competing clean.”
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Campagnolo Gran Fondo New York brings Italian cycling culture to the world’s greatest city. On May 19, 2013, 6,000 cyclists from over 70 countries and 48 states will take on a challenging 105-mile route from NYC to Bear Mountain and back to compete against each other, the clock and themselves in a personal endurance challenge. Gran Fondo racing stems from Italy, where these amateur cycling races take place nearly every weekend throughout Italy giving the cyclists a chance to test and prove themselves on two wheels. Gran Fondo New York raises funds for Operation Smile, the international children’s medical charity.
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