October 24, 2007 – The biological passport, which is being introduced by the UCI for the 2008 season, is an individual document, which records all the results of biological analyses carried out on each rider (at present, haematological parameters and urinary steroidal profile). All this data, once collated, enables the haematological and urinary profile of a rider to be produced, and thus, to monitor with precision the evolution of the various parameters in his body in comparison with his constant references.

Since the introduction by the UCI in 1997 of random blood tests, the same limits applied to everyone. But now, thanks to the biological passport, we can identify much more precisely what is normal and what is not normal, taking in account the physical particularities of each rider, and thus define individual limits.

The biological passport opens new doors in the fight against doping. By knowing the profile of an individual, we will be able to interpret the slightest change in the parameters measured and draw the necessary conclusions, if applicable by imposing sanctions.

Why refer to it as a biological passport and not a haematological passport?

The biological passport does not concern just blood analyses. The biological passport goes much further. It also includes extra parameters (in particular steroidal parameters in urine).

A biological passport allows the possibility of including new parameters in the future.

Since when has the UCI been working on the introduction of the biological passport?

The UCI has been working since April 2006 with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the University Institute of Legal Medicine in Lausanne to introduce an approach inspired by the techniques used in legal medicine, of which the biological passport is the main element.

It should also be noted that for the last ten years or so, the UCI has been a pioneer in the use of blood tests for prevention and anti-doping purposes (see question «Is the passport a turning point in the UCI’s anti-doping methods ?» below). Due to this experience, it is in the vanguard of the standardisation of procedures, both in terms of the conditions of taking and transporting samples as well as the methods of analysis. Since 2006, the UCI introduced, for all laboratories involved in haematological testing, the obligation to undergo the same external quality testing, which is carried out by the Swiss Centre for Quality Control.

Which riders are concerned by the biological passport?

Initially, all riders who are members of a UCI ProTeam and all riders who are members of professional continental teams that have been granted the «wild card» label. It can therefore be considered that all races in which these riders will participate will be concerned by the biological passport.

When will riders be given a biological passport?

Riders will be given a biological passport from the beginning of the 2008 season.

Once a sufficient number of analyses are carried out for a given rider, the majority of which will be performed out-of-competition, it will be possible to use this information collected to determine whether a new result is normal or not.

Will the biological passport be in place for the 2008 Tour de France?

The question is not applicable in this sense. It can be considered that the biological passport will come into being from the beginning of the season, when the results of the first analyses have been recorded. However it is certain that the biological passport requires a certain number of tests to be carried out to guarantee its relevant use. Therefore, for a given rider, once we have enough analyses which can determine whether a new result is acceptable or not, the principle of the biological passport can be put into practice, i.e. that the rider may be banned from competing if his data is abnormal.

For riders for whom before the Tour de France, the UCI has sufficient data to use the biological passport, then it will do so before the Tour de France.

As far as the UCI is concerned, the passport cannot just include some riders or a single event: it must concern all riders and all events in which they take part.

The introduction of the biological passport requires a significant increase in the number of tests carried out by the UCI. The following provides details on this increase:

In-competition anti-doping tests
2007 – 5’590
2008 – 8’000

Out-of-competition anti-doping tests
2007 – 1’000
2008 – 7’000

Blood tests before races
2007 – 2’700
2008 – To be confirmed

Can the biological passport be used to impose sanctions on riders?

The detection of abnormal levels will enable a rider to be declared unfit and to be banned from competing for 15 days or for proceedings to be started for a violation of the anti-doping rules.

The effectiveness of the biological passport resides in its dissuasive power. Once the system is implemented, it will become more difficult to resort to doping without being caught. It will therefore become almost impossible, for example, to use blood manipulation methods.

Does the passport mark a turning point in the UCI’s methods to fight against doping?

The biological passport is a great step forward, but strictly speaking not a turning point. It is part of the continuous efforts already undertaken by the UCI. For many years the UCI has been a pioneer in the use of haematological parameters for prevention and anti-doping purposes:

– in 1997, the UCI introduced random blood tests which were able to detect abnormalities in biological parameters which could be due to the use of EPO (haematocrit level). These tests could not prove whether doping substances had been taken, but it was an innovative first step in a direction which other International Federations subsequently followed;

– since the validation of the anti-doping test for the detection of EPO in 2001, the UCI decided to use the results of blood tests to target riders to undergo a urinary test for the detection of EPO. This decision went in the direction favoured by the UCI: monitor blood parameters to fight against doping and as a result increase the effectiveness of anti-doping tests;

– in the following years, the UCI included new parameters in blood tests: haemoglobin in 2000, free plasmatic haemoglobin in 2003, stimulation index in 2004, reticulocytes in 2005. These were based on scientific discoveries and technical improvements in measuring apparatus. It was therefore an ongoing project, which was constantly evolving;

– the UCI is the only Federation to have introduced a limit of inaptitude for free plasmatic haemoglobin and reticulocytes;

– the UCI is the first Federation to introduce an external quality control programme for laboratories which carry out haematological analyses. These checks are entrusted to the Swiss Centre for Quality Control;

– in 2008, the UCI will be the first Federation to bring in measures and sanctions with the introduction of the biological passport.

What is the connection between the biological passport which the UCI is working on and the «pilot project» which will be the main topic of discussion at the summit meeting in Paris?

The pilot-project for the haematological passport is heading in the right direction, but the UCI believes that we can go further and advance quicker. For almost two years the UCI has been working on the introduction of a wide-scale testing programme which should result in the production of a biological passport. This initiative was approved by the Management Committee in Stuttgart on 25 September.

Who will finance the introduction of the biological passport?

The UCI is responsible for providing the necessary funds for this new measure. Various parties have already stated that they intend to contribute to it.