MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 20 April 2023 - The FIM Ride True anti-doping campaign continued to share its ongoing message with a briefing for more than one hundred-and thirty athletes, their parents, team managers and close associates at this month’s Swiss Round of the FIM Motocross World Championship at Frauenfeld.
The briefing for MXGP, MX2 and WMX riders was conducted by the internationally-recognised Swiss Sport Integrity organisation and addressed issues surrounding the dangers of doping, ethical misconduct and wrongdoing in sport.
As well as being educated on the dangers of doping, those in attendance learned about available online resources to help identify prohibited substances that could be present in nutritional supplements and over-the-counter medicines.
David Luongo, Infront Moto Racing CEO, was unequivocal on the subject of anti-doping: “This is a matter we regard with the utmost importance,” he said. “There is no place in the sport for doping and we are collaborating with the FIM to ensure the athletes strictly adhere to this. The FIM stringent programme of testing ensures a level playing field for everyone so ability, training, talent, and machinery are the sole deciding factors.”
A survey conducted after the briefing resulted in positive feedback and additional briefings are planned for later in the year.
Maxime Renaux, Monster Energy Yamaha MXGP Team, said: “It was really interesting for us riders to see a bit more in detail what the anti-doping rules are. I learned that some medication changes between countries and also about the contamination of some products so we need to pay attention to this. It was really interesting and we should be more attentive to the doping rules.
“I am checking myself but I have been working for many years with the same products so everything is checked. I believe it is important to keep the riders aware about the anti-doping rules. I know it is hard to get tests every weekend but I believe it is important to have a clean sport with every rider with the same rules and fighting on the same level.”
Courtney Duncan, Big Van World MTX Kawasaki, said: “I learned quite a bit although I’ve watched a few protocols before so I knew quite a lot of the stuff. I check supplement and also my nutritionist checks them just to make sure they’re not WADA-prohibited. It’s very important. It just keeps the sport clean – fair winners, no-one’s cheating.”
David Braceras, F&H Kawasaki, said: “I always check supplements with my doctors to be safe and healthy. I do a blood test every month. It is important for myself and other competitors to be at the same level. For me anti-doping is really, really important. Imagine if you are doing everything level and you are racing with another rider who is taking something additional to you – it is not fair. All the riders must have the same opportunities.”
Kiara Fontanesi, MXFonta Racing, said: “We all have a great engine inside ourselves. It is about how you train it, how you feed it and how you repeat this. The more clean you are the better power you have. That’s how you reach victories.”
Raf Meuwissen, Young Motion Yamaha, said: “It was a very interesting briefing and I learned a few things I didn’t know. I was in the Dutch selection for a few years and the coach of the team gave me an app for my phone so I could always check every supplement.
“Train hard and take the right stuff and you will be ready for the race. I think anti-doping is really good. If you check it and you know it then you will be aware of it. It is always better that everyone is safe and I think it’s important.”
Antonio Cairoli, nine-time FIM Motocross World Champion and current Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager, said: “Motocross is not a sport where if you take doping substances you will go faster. It is a sport that requires a lot of sacrifices and if you make it the right way you will be twice as proud.”
Jonas Personeni, Director of Prevention and Communication at Swiss Sport Integrity, said: “It was a great experience. It was the first time for me in this environment and the people are very engaged and very passionate. The athletes are aware that they are subject to the anti-doping rules, they know what to do and they are well-prepared, so the goal is to prevent any inadvertent anti-doping violations. It is important for athletes to have a fair chance to know the rules [and] that they have the knowledge to be aware of the requirements.”
David McManus, FIM Medical Director, concluded: “The main pillars of the FIM anti-doping programme are fairness, integrity, minimise risk and improve the health and safety of our riders. As part of its anti-doping programme, the FIM has over a number of years introduced educational initiatives to improve the awareness of riders and their support personnel regarding doping issues. Our belief is that by increasing knowledge and understanding, positive doping tests can be prevented.
“We have been supported in our briefings by a number of organisations including national anti-doping organisations as well as well-known riders and we would like to extend a special thanks to Infront Moto Racing for supporting the FIM Ride True anti-doping campaign at Frauenfeld.
“As a result of these initiatives riders and their teams are increasingly aware of the need to consider and question the potential risk from various substances and the potential impact on their health and our sport.”
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