Ethics
Commitment
Fight against doping
As part of the respect of an irreproachable ethics, the prevention and the fight against doping are of paramount importance for the AG2R CITROËN team. Managers, riders and staff are constantly aware of the need to work day after day for the respect of a doping-free sport.
Many measures are put in place in our team, in order to respect the principle of a clean and ethical sport, essential elements for the health of all:
- A system of prevention within the team: a complete medical and paramedical supervision during the training courses, competitions or any other trip, so that no one other than the medical staff of the team can intervene on the medical level, within the training.
- A verification by the team physician of all medical procedures proposed outside the team, in order to validate them before they are performed.
- A teaching to all riders, of the anti-doping legislation in force and the additional constraints imposed by the team in the fight against doping.
- Biological check-ups and unannounced health checks at the discretion of the team doctor throughout the year, including during the Grand Tours if necessary.
- The inclusion in the team's internal regulations of specific points concerning ethics and the fight against doping, both for riders and for the management.
- Absolute respect of the daily tracking program by riders in order to allow for unannounced doping controls, as well as complete acceptance of the national and international anti-doping program and in particular adherence to the biological passport of the International Cycling Union.
- The eviction or non-renewal of the contract of any rider or supervisor who does not respect the internal rules or the completion of the assessments imposed by the team.
- The intervention of a psychologist with riders and the management, particularly with the aim of raising awareness of ethical issues.
- The adhesion of the team to the MPCC (Movement for a Credible Cycling) and to its rules which impose additional constraints in the fight against doping.
- The creation and support of the team's training center, Chambéry Cyclisme Formation, in order to train young cyclists and bring them to evolve in a cycling where ethics prevail (the doctor of the professional team is also the doctor of the training center).
Throughout the season, the team doctor is supported by the manager and the sponsor in promoting health actions.
Involvement
MPCC
AG2R LA MONDIALE, Citroën and Vincent LAVENU, General Manager of the professional cycling team, have been advocating the practice of cycling in accordance with ethical rules and in particular with those of the Mouvement pour un Cyclisme Crédible (MPCC) since the creation of this organization.
Vincent LAVENU, supported by his team (sports managers, doctors, nutritionists, trainers, psychologists, physiotherapists), takes all possible measures and precautions so that the riders comply with the sports rules based on an irreproachable ethics.
The AG2R CITROËN cycling team is a founding member of the MPCC, created in July 2007.
AG2R LA MONDIALE and Citroën are also members of the MPCC as sponsors.
The MPCC's code of ethics not only respects the International Cycling Union's Code of Conduct and the rules set out by the World Anti-Doping Agency, but also goes beyond it by imposing even stricter rules.
It provides for, among other things:
- The withdrawal of a rider upon receipt of a positive test on an event,
- The non-employment of a rider involved in a doping case and having been sanctioned for more than six months in the two years following the suspension
- Legal proceedings against any rider positive for damage to the team's image
- Actions to fight against the use of harmful or doping substances such as corticosteroids: in this context, the validation of local infiltrations of corticosteroids by the doctor in charge of the team is essential and he must then prescribe a minimum of eight days off work, and therefore off competition
- The introspection of a team when confronted with several cases of positivity or ineptitude.
- A concomitant fight against technological fraud, which is considered by the MPCC as a positive control, with the same consequences
- The performance of additional and unannounced blood tests.
MPCC.com