Cedric Gracia has opened up about doping in mountain biking in an explosive video on his vlog channel today.

Gracia seems to strongly suspect the Enduro World Series attracts dopers due to a lack of testing and controls. He says at 4:53: “In the EWS we don’t even have doping control… Basically everyone can do everything they want during the season, but where I think it’s the most important is what they do during the winter because you can do what you want. Who cares? Who is going to control you?”

Cedric Gracia compares the EWS to the UCI where he was forced to give blood tests every three months since he was 16-years-old. He claims he has only been tested once or twice in the EWS.

The EWS takes a “zero tolerance approach to drug taking in cycling”. Their rules state: “The Enduro World Series organisers and EMBA will respect and assist any National Cycling Federation operating anti-doping controls at Enduro World Series events.

“Any competitor entering an EMBA event must follow any anti-doping procedure that may be asked of them by an Enduro World Series organiser. With the interests of keeping enduro mountain biking clean from the start and to avoid the spirit and reputation of enduro mountain bike racing from being brought into disrepute, any cyclist, regardless of cycling discipline, who has previously been found guilty by any court or regulatory body of any use of or involvement with banned, performance enhancing drugs will not be entitled to compete or take part in any Enduro World Series event.”

We reached out to Chris Ball, EWS’ founder, and he said: “Implementing more anti-doping controls is a priority for us in the coming years. We welcome any discussion about doping in enduro, especially when part of the larger conversation about doping in mountain biking in general.

“We’ve had testing at a number of our races in the past and will be looking to increase testing in the future. We don’t believe doping to be a problem in enduro currently, but we want to keep it that way and there are ongoing internal discussions about the best way to implement a more rigorous testing structure in the future.” 

In September 2012 an unnamed French rider was banned for six months for taking a masking agent at the Megavalanche at St-Paul, Reunion Island 2011.

Cedric Gracia says: “So far I think we’re pretty good in mountain biking because they caught a lot of other people in other sports. Either we have **** doping tests or people are just strong (laughs). That’s Cedric being a good support now… And the mystery of the off-season, you know, hiding somewhere.”

CG goes on to talk about taking recreational drugs, amateur doping and includes a story about a well known downhill rider. The whole thing is worth a watch if you have the time.

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