The Mouvement pour un cyclisme crédible (MPCC) has issued a renewed and strongly worded appeal to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), calling for clear and enforceable rules to halt what it describes as the escalating medicalisation of professional cycling.
At the heart of the MPCC’s concerns is the continued expansion of a so-called “grey area” – substances and medical practices that are not formally banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), but which raise significant ethical and health questions when used by healthy athletes rather than clinical patients.
The MPCC argues that the lack of decisive regulation leaves riders exposed to pressure within the peloton, where marginal gains can translate into implicit expectations to use questionable products simply to remain competitive.
The grey area and cycling’s credibility problem
According to the MPCC, long anti-doping timelines and prolonged scientific investigations create a vacuum in which certain substances remain legally permissible despite unresolved concerns. This, they argue, allows debates to drag on year after year while usage continues unchecked.
The organisation questions whether a more precautionary approach should be adopted, whereby substances are temporarily banned during investigation and only permitted again once proven safe and ethically acceptable.
In its statement, the MPCC warned that as long as this grey area exists, cycling’s credibility will continue to suffer and rider health will remain at risk. The group believes the current system does not sufficiently protect athletes from either physical harm or the cultural pressure to engage in excessive medical intervention.
Ketones as a case study
Ketone supplements are cited as the clearest and most persistent example of this problem. Since the publication of early research in 2016 and 2017, ketones have been a recurring source of controversy in endurance sport, particularly cycling.
The MPCC took a clear stance years ago, committing its member teams not to use ketones. Nearly two years later, the UCI issued a notice of non-recommendation, advising teams against their use while further analysis was conducted. Despite this, many teams and riders continued to use ketones openly, with some even entering sponsorship agreements with supplement manufacturers.
On 20 October 2025, the UCI reaffirmed its position through a formal declaration stating that it does not recommend ketone supplements, citing the lack of compelling evidence for performance or recovery benefits. However, the MPCC notes that this remains guidance rather than a binding medical rule or anti-doping regulation, meaning the debate continues unresolved.
Following its Annual General Meeting in Paris on 22 October 2025, the MPCC confirmed that its members will continue to echo the UCI’s recommendation not to use ketones and will refuse any sponsorship linked to the product. The organisation now believes the discussion around ketones should be considered closed.
Growing concerns over other substances
Beyond ketones, the MPCC highlights renewed rumours surrounding so-called “finishing bottles”, where cocktails of borderline substances are allegedly passed to riders late in races to prepare them for decisive moments.
The organisation also raised alarm over the potential misuse of powerful painkillers, including Tapentadol, which is reportedly up to ten times stronger than Tramadol. Tramadol itself was banned in competition only after more than a decade of lobbying by the MPCC, and while Tapentadol is now under UCI monitoring, the group questions whether cycling can afford to wait through another prolonged evaluation period while rider safety is at stake.
Proof that faster action is possible
The MPCC points to recent precedent showing that authorities are capable of acting swiftly when required. The non-diagnostic use of carbon monoxide, which came to light during the 2024 Tour de France, will be listed by WADA as a prohibited method from 2026, demonstrating that decisive intervention is possible when risks are clearly identified.
For the MPCC, this example strengthens the case for proactive regulation rather than reactive governance.
A call for clarity and collaboration
The MPCC’s position remains unchanged. It views the endless medicalisation of riders as a major structural issue within the sport and believes urgent action is required. The organisation is calling on the UCI to establish a clear and regulated framework covering substances and medical practices that fall within the grey area, including proactive identification of products that pose ethical concerns.
Such clarity, the MPCC argues, would allow teams and riders to understand where they stand ethically, reduce pressure within the peloton, and better protect athlete health.
The MPCC has stated it is ready to work closely with the UCI to support progress in this area, describing the issue as critical to the long-term integrity and sustainability of professional cycling.
