The newly created dedicated cycling unit as part of the International Testing Agency (ITA) is ready for operations from 1 January 2021. Since the decision by cycling’s governing body, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), to transfer the responsibilities of the sport’s operational anti-doping activities from the Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation (CADF) to the ITA earlier this year, steady progress has been made to ensure a smooth transition and operational continuity.
The majority of the staff from the CADF (11 of 13) are transitioning to the new ITA cycling unit, the crucial knowledge, expertise and a continuation of the same processes employed by the CADF will be retained.
Speaking about the transition, CADF Director Olivier Banuls, who will continue to lead the new cycling unit, was full of praise for the way the handover has been progressing: “Once the UCI made their decision to transfer the operations to the ITA, there were many unique obstacles that the CADF and ITA faced in a very challenging year. I am very pleased with the way the transition has been handled and would like to commend the professionalism of the UCI and the ITA in facilitating the changeover and we look forward to continuing our mission for a level playing field for cycling at the ITA.”
The new cycling unit of the ITA will continue its work for the protection of clean athletes and, through the collective resources invested into the ITA, the cycling community will directly benefit from centralised anti-doping expertise and a multitude of innovative projects, aimed at keeping the sport at the forefront of the fight against doping in a responsible and cost-effective manner.
For more information on the work of the ITA, please visit www.ita.sport
