French anti-doping experts suggest a so-called "magic box" might be behind Tadej Pogacar's great performances

Tadej Pogacar's spectacular performances in 2024 had once again raised the questions about possible doping. Group of specialists from the Radio France Investigation Unit run a research with focus on the phenomenon of overmedicalization, Cyclism'Actu reports.

The investigation delves deeper into the problem of overmedicalization in cycling, highlighting the role of Mauro Gianetti, the controversial manager of Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates.

Gianetti, a former rider, is a poster child for this problem. In 1998, he nearly died after injecting himself with perfluorocarbon (PFC), a substance that is supposed to improve oxygen transport in the blood. Although Gianetti has denied the injection, his former teammate, Éric Boyer, has his doubts. Boyer believes that the presence of figures with dubious pasts such as Gianetti or Alexander Vinokourov is irresponsible for the future of the sport.

The investigation also highlights the availability of various drugs in the peloton. Cyclists have access to substances such as Voltaren, caffeine or paracetamol, often in the form of cocktails. An anonymous witness describes the "magic box", a box containing various drugs, freely distributed before races. The concept of the "bomba", a mixture of these authorized products, recalls the amphetamine cocktails that were once widespread.

Ketones, newly popularized, are also an example of this "grey area" in which cycling operates. Sold as food supplements, they improve recovery and increase the level of red blood cells. Although the UCI and the MPCC advise against their use, they are tolerated in certain teams, with medical monitoring. A cyclist says that some managers prefer to supervise the taking of ketones rather than prohibit their use, which, according to him, is similar to a form of doping.

The use of sophisticated medical equipment, such as carbon monoxide rebreathers, is also problematic. Originally designed for dialysis patients, these devices are now used in cycling to simulate high altitude, thereby stimulating the production of EPO. This "legal doping" worries experts like hematologist Gérard Dine, who points out that these techniques hijack medical advances. According to him, these practices allow cyclists to circumvent anti-doping controls without directly violating the rules, by exploiting technological and regulatory loopholes.

Experts are calling for reform to stop this medical "arms race", particularly in teams and among young cyclists. Jean-Pierre Verdy, former director of the French Anti-Doping Agency, considers this massive use of drugs to be a form of doping, albeit a legal one.