The Movement for Credible Cycling (MPCC) has issued an urgent appeal to the UCI, warning that professional cycling is entering a dangerous new phase of 'escalating medicalisation' driven by powerful substances that remain technically legal.
In a formal statement released today (December 22), the organisation identified Tapentadol - an opioid analgesic stronger than Tramadol - as the primary pharmaceutical threat facing the peloton. The drug, used medically to treat severe pain from conditions such as bone cancer, is currently only under UCI's "monitoring" despite the MPCC's push for an immediate ban.
"It took us twelve years to get Tramadol banned," MPCC president Roger Legeay stated in 2024 in an interview with Le Temps. "This time, we hope that the authorities will be quicker."
The organisation warns that Tapentadol poses extreme safety risks, including cognitive impairment and loss of focus in high-speed racing environments, alongside a high potential for addiction. By masking pain and fatigue - natural limiters in endurance sport - the drug functions as a direct performance enhancer.
Grey area gains
The MPCC's warning extends beyond opioids to what it calls the 'grey area' of performance enhancement: substances and techniques not yet prohibited by WADA but used to artificially boost physiology.
Carbon monoxide rebreathers have emerged as a particular concern as surfaced by Escape Collective's exclusive investigation in 2024. While WADA will ban non-diagnostic carbon monoxide use from January 1, 2026, the MPCC argues this regulatory lag has already allowed unprecedented performances throughout 2024 and 2025.
The organisation has also criticised the UCI's October 20 'non-recommendation' on ketone supplements as insufficient. Despite the UCI stating there is "no compelling evidence" that ketones enhance performance, the advisory lacks the force of a ban - creating a two-tier peloton where MPCC member teams refuse ketones while non-members continue their use.
The MPCC's position challenges this interpretation. "The MPCC's position has not changed: the endless medicalisation of riders is a major problem and requires action," the organisation stated today, arguing that healthy athletes have no need for medical-grade substances.
With record-shattering race speeds coinciding with expanded pharmaceutical options, the MPCC is pressuring the UCI to move beyond reactive regulation and establish firm rules that protect both rider safety and the sport's credibility.
