In a brief press release published yesterday, the International Cycling Union (UCI) expressed their support for “teams pursuing a policy to monitor their athletes”, referring particularly to Team Sky’s decision to take Sergio Henao off the race schedule after his questionable out-of-competition control tests were revealed.

As we have informed yesterday, the 26-year old climber has been taken off race schedule and set to return to Colombia to become a part of the altitude research programme, aiming to achieve a better understanding of the effects of prolonged periods at altitude after returning from sea level on altitude natives.

The decision was explained by Team Sky’s manager Dave Brailsford as follows:

“We contacted the relevant authorities - the UCI and CADF – pointed to these readings and asked whether they could give us any insights. We've also taken Sergio out of our race programme whilst we get a better understanding of these profiles and his physiology.

“We are commissioning independent scientific research to better understand the effects of prolonged periods at altitude after returning from sea level, specifically on altitude natives.

“The independent experts are looking to use WADA-accredited laboratories and Team Sky will make the data and findings available to WADA, the UCI and CADF.

“Sergio will help with this programme and we expect him to be out of the race schedule for at least eight weeks. Once we have completed our assessment, we’ll decide on the right steps and give a full update.”

In a brief statement published yesterday, the UCI expressed their full support for teams pursuing a policy to monitor their athletes and called “appropriate” the action of taking them off the race schedule during the investigation.

Yesterday’s UCI press release concerning latest Sky’s actions goes as follows:

“As a matter of principle, the UCI supports teams pursuing a policy to monitor their athletes. If a team has any concerns, then an action of taking the rider off the race schedule would be appropriate for the time of the investigation being conducted.”