MPCC urges UCI to set firm medical rules as cycling’s grey area keeps expanding

At the heart of the MPCC’s concern is the pace of anti-doping decision making. Investigations take years, regulations arrive slowly, and in the meantime new substances enter the conversation season after season. 

During those gaps, athletes are left to make individual choices in an environment shaped by uncertainty and competition. The MPCC questions in her statement whether a more protective approach would be to restrict a product while it is under investigation and only allow its use once it has been clearly assessed and approved.

The grey area, as described by the MPCC, consists of substances and medical treatments that are not yet prohibited under the World Anti-Doping Agency code, but raise serious ethical concerns when used by healthy riders rather than sick patients. According to the movement, as long as that space remains undefined, the sport leaves riders exposed to health risks and fans exposed to doubt.

Ketones are cited as the most visible example. The MPCC notes that the debate has been running since 2017, when the first scientific studies triggered wider interest in the product. From the outset, the movement took a clear stance that its members would not use ketones. 

Despite that, the discussion continued, and nearly two years later the UCI issued a “notice of non recommendation” pending further analysis. The MPCC argues that this half step failed to close the issue, as many teams and riders ignored the advice and some even entered commercial partnerships with ketone suppliers.

When the UCI reiterated its position on 25 October 2025, again stating that ketone use is not recommended, the MPCC welcomed the clarity of tone but stressed that recommendations are not rules. Without a formal anti-doping or medical regulation that explicitly bans or permits a product, debate and ambiguity persist, and with them the pressure on riders.

The statement also highlights renewed rumours around so called “Finishing Bottles”, with borderline substances allegedly being mixed and distributed in the peloton ahead of key race moments. 

Alongside this, the MPCC points to the potential misuse of medicines such as tapentadol, described as significantly stronger than tramadol, which itself was only banned in competition after more than a decade of lobbying. While tapentadol is now under monitoring, the movement asks whether cycling can afford another prolonged waiting period while rider safety remains at stake.

The MPCC argues that swift action is possible when authorities choose to move decisively. It points to the case of non-diagnostic use of carbon monoxide, which emerged during the 2024 Tour de France and will be listed by WADA as a prohibited method from 2026.

“What is clear is that, as long as the grey area remains, the credibility of cycling will continue to suffer and riders health is at risk,” the statement says. The MPCC adds that “the endless medicalisation of riders is a major problem and requires action.” On ketones, it confirms that its members will echo the UCI’s recommendation not to use them and “will not accept sponsorship in this region.”