The biggest doping scandals in road cycling

road cycling is a top-level sport that attracts major global attention every year. It is an intense sport in which riders are under constant pressure to set the fastest time. This has led some cyclists to turn to illegal substances to help them during racing and cope better with that enormous pressure. The use of doping is illegal, however, and riders are punished heavily for it. Doping in sport is nothing new; it has been used for centuries. However, because of its clearly harmful effects on health, it was declared illegal in 1928 by the World Athletics Federation. Only decades later, in 1967, did the organization behind the Olympic Games also declare the use of doping illegal. In 1999, the World Anti-Doping Agency was founded to combat doping use worldwide. 

Doping use is not only illegal because it provides an unfair advantage; above all, these are highly dangerous drugs that can sometimes lead to death. So before we open the book on the biggest doping scandals that have taken place in road cycling, it is important to understand exactly what doping is and what effect it has on the human body. 

Types of doping and their effects

Doping use is not limited to cyclists alone. Many elite athletes around the world have been guilty of it. Doping is a Performance Inhancing Drug, so it helps you perform better. Every year, the list of illegal doping substances is updated by the World Anti-Doping Agency. There are different types of doping, each with different effects on the body. A substance is considered doping if it meets at least two of the following three criteria;

1. It improves performance
2. It poses a health risk to the athlete
3. It is contrary to the ‘spirit of sport’

Whether a substance meets these criteria is therefore determined by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

One of the most common types of doping falls under category stimulants. Stimulants such as amphetamines are widely used in road cycling, but also in sports such as football and athletics. The effect of using these stimulants is improved endurance, by reducing the feeling of fatigue and pain. In addition, users are able to focus better. What is also important to mention, however, is that the use of stimulants has been directly linked to, among other things, an increased risk of epileptic seizures, heart attacks, and even sudden death. Because of the serious risks involved, athletes are also routinely tested for them. 

Hormonal doping is another common and dangerous form of doping. Hormones can increase protein production in the body, directly contributing to greater muscle mass. One example is human growth hormone. The major downside of this drug, however, is that it can cause low blood sugar, as well as swelling of the limbs, bone overgrowth, and even heart attacks. 

The last one we’ll mention is blood doping. Its use increases the number of red blood cells in the blood, allowing the muscles to receive more oxygen. This leads to better endurance and more power. However, it can also cause issues such as a heart attack and blood clots. These are serious health risks, which may make you wonder why doping is used so widely.

Doping incidents in road cycling

One of the first times doping use came fully into the spotlight was after the death of English cyclist Tommy Simpson in 1967. The rider died during a stage of the Tour de France due to a combination of heat, extreme fatigue, alcohol, and doping (although this was never officially confirmed). Because footage of the race existed, the incident caused major international concern. Not entirely coincidentally, the organization of the Olympic Games banned the use of doping that same year. 

Probably the best-known example of doping abuse is that of seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. The American cyclist used doping during each of his victories between 1999 and 2005, which eventually came to light after teammates reported the doping use. The World Anti-Doping Agency then carried out an extensive investigation into Armstrong and found him guilty. He was stripped of his victories and banned from the sport for life. Armstrong himself continued to deny it for several years, but eventually admitted the use during an interview with Oprah. He stated that it was tied to the culture within the sport, indirectly suggesting that it was common for top cyclists to use illegal substances. That led other cyclists to feel they had to do the same just to have a chance of winning. 

This was far from the only incident that took place in the Tour de France. In 1998, it was even so severe that the race earned the nickname Tour de Dopage received. That year, doping was uncovered in many teams, including a Dutch team, after which many people were arrested. It started with Willy Voet, a Belgian physiotherapist, who was caught with many types of doping products in his car. This doping was intended for cyclists from different teams. Voet was arrested and confessed to what he had done. He kept detailed notes in a booklet of how much and what kind of doping he gave to different riders, which is how well-known cyclists such as Gert-Jan Theunisse were caught years after the offence. 

That same year, it caused major controversy within the teams in the Tour de France. There were even riders from Spanish and Italian teams who, because of the intensive treatment they received, decided to stop and leave the Tour. In the end, more than half of the peloton failed to reach the finish. It went down in the books as one of the most notorious Tour de France editions ever. 

Another discovery of large-scale doping use was the Fuentes case. This was also a more recent incident, namely in 2006. In the clinic of a Spanish doctor, a large quantity of doping products was found. Here too, it later turned out that the main end users were cyclists. As a result, several riders were banned from starting shortly before the Tour de France began. One of the teams, Astana, eventually had to hand in so many starting places that they could no longer start the Tour. 

There are more examples of doping abuse in road cycling, and many more suspicions besides. Ride smart!

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