Cycling looks to athletics for lead in doping fight

THE Australian vice-president of world cycling will use information from athletics in helping to decide if Russian cyclists will be banned from Rio.

UCI vice-president Tracey Gaudry.

THE vice-president of world cycling – who is also the commercial manager of Athletics Australia – says the UCI will take knowledge gained from both sports’ fight against doping into a decision on whether Russian cyclists will be cleared to compete at the Rio Olympics.

Melbourne-based Tracey Gaudry is vice president of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) which has been asked to provide information on Russian cyclists to the International Olympic Committee (IOC)

Athletics through its governing body the IAAF is the only sport to apply a blanket ban to all Russian competitors in Rio, in the wake of damning doping allegations against the country.

The IOC on Sunday stopped short of extending the ban to all Russian competitors in Rio and instead left it to the sports’ individual federations to make a decision.

UCI vice-president Tracey Gaudry.

Gaudry – a trailblazer for Australian and women’s cycling – has been involved in regular conference calls with UCI headquarters in Switzerland ahead of a decision later in the week.

“Athletics Australia has taken a very strong stance in championing the cause for clean sport and I am very pleased the IAAF has taken very strong steps in its new administration,” Gaudry said.

“As a former athlete I take a deep interest in upholding a clean playing field.

“The UCI will look across the bow at athletics and other sports in determining what position we may or may not form.”

Under the IOC’s criteria for Russian athletes in Rio, road cyclist Ilnur Zakarin – who last week won a stage of the Tour de France – is banned from Rio because he served a doping suspension in 2009.

Zakarin who would be a medal threat in the road race or time trial is reportedly investigating whether he can compete as an independent athlete.

Gaudry said she would not speculate on individual riders.

Cycling Australia chief executive Nick Green, who is also on the board of the AOC, said he was supportive of the fight against doping but was also mindful of the need for clean athletes to be allowed to compete.

“I am very strong in my stance against cheating and doping in sport and I encourage the IOC to be very strong,” Green said.

“But I also think athletes who are innocent are entitled to compete in a fair environment.

“For international federations within 10 days of the opening ceremony to test athletes and clear them, from a practical and administrative side I would find it very daunting.”

Originally published as Cycling looks to athletics for lead in doping fight