Crutchlow calls for more anti-doping checks

Cal Crutchlow has again called for MotoGP riders to undergo stricter anti-doping checks.

The Englishman believes it is currently possible for riders to 'cut corners' in areas such as rehydration and weight loss:

"If you think that there are people here who aren't trying to cut corners, in the biggest motorcycle sport on the planet, you're stupid," he said on Thursday in Qatar.

The solution, as far as Crutchlow is concerned, would be far more frequent testing.

"I think the testing is terrible. I think the way that whole part of this championship is run is no good. But I'm not saying anything that I've not said for the last four years," he began.

"If you think that there are people here who aren't trying to cut corners, in the biggest motorcycle sport on the planet, you're stupid. Because there are people cutting corners.

"But the [testing] system is just shit. How can you select randomly three riders into a testing pool? And they get tested more than the others.

"I've been in that testing pool. I was tested once out of the whole 365 days. And you know the year after, I wasn't in it, and I was tested once as well. And in the last two years, and I haven't been tested. And Jack's been in it twice out of three years.

"I think everyone should be in the testing pool, everyone has to log on and [state] their whereabouts on the ADAMS system. I'll tell you what the problem is, they're all lazy bastards, and they don't want the hassle of logging in every day.

"But you can log on once a month and say where you'll be. Then if you make a change to your itinerary, you log on and do it. But if you're telling me they don't have assistants, team managers, their doctors to do it...

"They don't want to do it, they're just lazy. But if they say they don't want to do it, how do I know they're not the ones cheating?"

But the latest rider meeting held with the FIM to discuss the anti-doping protocol ended with mixed opinions on whether more should be done.

"A select amount of riders said that's what they wanted [more tests]. A select amount of riders kept their mouths shut, because they either don't want any testing or the don't want the hassle of logging on and that," Crutchlow said.

"But some of the guys in this paddock are paid near on, in total, €40 million. Some are paid €20 million. How can you not find a way if you're a professional athlete [to log on system]?

"Or get one of your helpers to do it. Some of them have got seven helpers! I really don't understand if they're clean, why they don't put their balls on the table and say, 'test me at any time?'"

In a sport where success depends on a mix of rider and machine, plus mental as much as physical skill, Crutchlow doubts anyone is taking the kind of performance enhancing medication that makes the headlines in athletes.

"I'm not saying that a hard drug here would help. [MotoGP] is not particularly about outright performance, you have one guy here who goes out smoking and drinking, but he's still able to be competitive because he's a natural motorcycle racer.

"But we're talking about needles, rehydration.

"We're not allowed needles. I know for a fact there are needles here. You could be taking diuretics to shed weight, because you're lazy and you don't want to put in the amount of hours that someone else does."

The double MotoGP race winner added: "I've said to them I don't agree with the [testing] system for many years.

"How can we spend so much money in this paddock, have such a title up for grabs? Our championship is like the Premier League.

"All the cyclists are in the ADAMS program, they get tested all the time. All the Olympic athletes are tested. Why are we just randomly testing here and there, at two races a year?

"I hope it changes, I think they're trying to do something about it. They're listening to us, which is the main thing.

"But it was an interesting meeting which just confirmed what I already know…"

The rider briefings at Qatar were attended by FIM Medical Director Dr David McManus and FIM Anti-Doping Coordinator Evelyne Magnin. The dangers of doping, with regard to the health of the riders, were highlighted while some examples of prohibited substances were presented. 

The riders were also given an explanation of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP), Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) process and the Anti-Doping Administration Management System (ADAMS).

Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta commented: “The FIM and Dorna have been working very closely these past seasons on this subject. It’s something that’s very important to both of us and especially to the FIM as the sporting organiser of the World Championship and the disciplinary authority. As the sport has developed, the physical aspect is now one of the most significant for all classes and we feel that it’s important to give riders a good education about anti-doping both on the track and off.”