No Action Over Cavendish Missing Drugs Test

Last updated : 06 January 2012 By Kev Monks

The UCI will take no action following reports that Mark Cavendish missed a drugs test last April.

Cavendish, who has around sixty drug tests per year, has been reported in an Italian newspaper as missing an "out of competition" drugs test in April. 

With UCI rules only covering those who miss three drugs tests in an eighteen month period, Cavendish, who was tested a fortnight before the missed test and twice in the fortnight afterwards, will face no action for his first offence.

In a statement, the World Champion, TDF Green Jersey holder and BBC 2011 Sports Personality Of The Year said: "I missed an out of competition test last April. "It was my mistake. I was with a film crew for the BBC and Giro d'Italia on Mount Etna. It was a simple, genuine administrative error. Of course I totally understand the importance of testing in sport. I was tested by the UCI a couple of weeks before that and twice in the fortnight after, and had around 60 tests in all last year. It's part of the job and it's my job to make sure I don't miss another."

His Team Sky manager David Brailsford said: "There is absolutely no doubt about Mark's integrity. "I am totally satisfied that he made a genuine mistake. He is tested regularly and is a powerful advocate for testing and ensuring that sport is clean."

 

 

Picture copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM