The Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation (CADF), U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) today announced an important anti-doping partnership for the 2015 Amgen Tour of California that will, for the first time, include a collaborative effort between the organizations to conduct both in- and out-of-competition testing for all athletes competing in the event. The organizations will jointly coordinate the test distribution planning and sample collection. 
 

All samples will be screened for substances and methods included on the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List, such as EPO, and certain samples will also be selected for special analysis: the CIR test for synthetic testosterone and tests for CERA and hGH. The samples collected may also be used as part of both USADA and UCI’s Biological Passport programs, and urine and blood samples collected may also be stored for up to ten years, under the rules of the World Anti-Doping Code, so that, in the event of new testing methods, samples can be re-evaluated.

Commenting on the announcement CADF Director Francesca Rossi said: “Working closely with national anti-doping organizations is key part of the CADF’s long-term strategy for planning and implementing anti-doping testing programs in cycling. I am therefore very pleased with the partnership between the CADF, USADA and the UCI for the 2015 Amgen Tour of California. It will allow us to pool various resources including manpower for in- and out-of-competition testing but also, importantly, to share intelligence data for the benefit of the overall testing program.”

“Global collaboration is a vital part of the work we all do in the anti-doping movement,” said USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart. “The UCI and the CADF’s willingness to work in partnership with national anti-doping organizations is a strong demonstration of the current UCI leadership’s commitment to moving the sport forward from the past, and we look forward to continuing to work with them in the future for the benefit of all clean athletes.”

UCI President Brian Cookson stated: “The UCI is strongly committed to develop and strengthen its ties with all anti-doping organizations. This agreement with USADA for the 2015 Amgen Tour of California is a new important step forward after previous collaborations set with NADOs from Switzerland, France, and the UK among others. We truly believe that an effective fight for a clean sport can only be achieved through joining forces.”

The Amgen Tour of California is taking place between May 10 and 17. Out-of-competition testing is already underway in the lead up to the event.