“To confirm he is doped, some rely on… his bleached blonde hair!” – Doctor hits back at bizarre Tadej Pogacar theory

Tadej Pogacar’s new look continues to spark debate on social media. After another dominant performance at Strade Bianche, the Slovenian once again found himself at the centre of attention, not only because of his performance on the road but also because of his bleached hair. Across digital platforms, comments and theories have emerged linking the aesthetic change to alleged doping practices, an idea that experts consider completely unfounded.

The discussion has gained traction largely because of cycling’s past. In previous eras, riders such as Richard Virenque and Riccardo Ricco adopted a similar look, which helped fuel the belief among some fans that bleaching hair could disguise traces of banned substances in hair testing. The coincidence between that style and some of the sport’s most controversial periods helped cement the theory among more sceptical followers.

However, from a scientific perspective there is no evidence to support that suspicion. Speaking to Sports.fr in comments reported by A Bola, sports doctor and doping specialist Jean-Pierre de Mondenard firmly rejected the idea.

“The domination of Tadej Pogacar at Strade Bianche, in the classics and in the Tour de France causes irritation among those who hate cycling. To confirm their certainty that he is doped, some rely on… his bleached blonde hair!” the specialist said.

Mondenard also pointed out that the dominance of the UAE Team Emirates – XRG leader did not begin recently. The Slovenian has been one of the leading figures in the international peloton for several years, long before appearing with his current platinum blonde hair. For the doctor, the coincidence between the change in appearance and his recent victories is simply irrelevant from a scientific standpoint.

He also explained that the substance most commonly associated with doping in endurance sports, erythropoietin (EPO), cannot be detected through hair testing. “EPO, the main doping product in endurance sports such as cycling, due to its size, cannot be detected by hair analysis.”

The specialist added that although chemical processes such as bleaching can reduce traces of some substances, including drugs like cocaine or opiates, those substances are rarely used to improve sporting performance. In any case, they are easily detected through far more common anti-doping methods such as blood and urine tests, which remain the basis of most controls in professional cycling.

To illustrate how weak the suspicion surrounding Pogacar’s hair is, Mondenard pointed to an example from another sport. “Footballer Antoine Griezmann has played for years with fluorescent pink hair. Curiously, nobody sees that as an indication of doping… even though football is not free from the medicalisation of performance,” he said, referring to the Atletico Madrid and France international.

Pogacar himself has already explained the reason for the change in appearance. According to the rider, the blonde hair is not linked to cycling’s past or to any former riders. Instead, it is simply a tribute to rapper Eminem, an artist he has said he greatly admires.