Independently Verified

The Agency for Cycling Ethics (ACE) independently administers Slipstream’s testing program. Slipstream believes in total transparency into the testing process and welcomes question from the public on how the program works. The following outlines some of the most frequently asked questions:

• How exactly does the testing work?
• What is a biomarker and how does it help determine if someone is taking a banned substance?
• How do you keep track of so many riders and ensure they are all tested?
• How is testing conducted around the world?
• How do the riders feel about being tested so much?
• What is the Agency for Cycling Ethics (ACE)?
• How does the relationship between Slipstream Sports and the ACE work on a day-to-day basis?
• What happens when ACE has a concern about the test results of one of your riders?
• What if a rider is sick?
• What if a rider needs a prescription? How does that impact his tests?
• Is it possible for a Slipstream Sports rider to test positive while in the ACE program?

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How exactly does the testing work?
Pioneered by Slipstream in 2006, the ground breaking testing program breaks away from trying to play catch up with the latest drug. By testing attributes unique to each rider—such as blood composition and hormone levels—the program establishes baseline biological markers for each rider. Once established, any variance from this baseline can be immediately identified without needing to detect a specific banned substance to determine if the rider has used a performance enhancing substance or blood transfusion.In late 2006, a version of the program (albeit with fewer tests) has been adopted by cycling’s governing body, the Union Cyclist International (UCI) and the World Anti Doping Authority (WADA) as the basis for their “biological passport” program.What is a biomarker and how does it help determine if someone is taking a banned substance?
A biomarker is, in the broadest sense of the word, any physical or physiologic characteristic of an individual that can be measured and tracked over time. For anti-doping purposes, a biomarker is typically a measurement of a chemical, hormone, or blood cell type. The use of doping products or methods can be detected by changes in an athlete’s biomarker profile.How do you keep track of so many riders and ensure they are all tested?
Slipstream has developed an advanced “whereabouts” tracking program for every rider. Each rider is equipped with a Blackberry and wireless communicates their location so that they available at anytime for random out of competition testing.

In addition, the team’s program administered by the Agency for Cycling Ethics (ACE), Slipstream participates in the International Cycling Union (UCI) whereabouts program and actively works with the UCI, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) on new “whereabouts” program initiatives.

How is testing conducted around the world?
ACE coordinates with specimen collection centers and laboratories around the world to make it possible for our cyclists to go for testing near home or wherever necessary. That goes equally for our riders from foreign countries as for our USA cyclists.

Slipstream’s riders and staff are prepared to go to whatever lengths necessary to prove that we race clean and to help reestablish credibility in our sport. There is of course a bit of grumbling at times over getting jabbed with a needle on a weekly basis, but the riders have responded responsibly and admirably to this additional challenge.

What is the Agency for Cycling Ethics (ACE)?
ACE is an organization of anti-doping specialists that conducts extensive detailed testing of athletes to look for signs of doping (or, conversely, to help substantiate that clean athletes are in fact competing clean). Slipstream Sports contracts with ACE to have our cyclist undergo the most rigorous testing possible to date.

The ACE website should answer any further questions regarding the work that they do.

How does the relationship between Slipstream Sports and the ACE work on a day-to-day basis?
Every Slipstream rider is subjected to weekly blood and urine testing by ACE. There is a process in place to insure that riders comply with the program.

Failure by a rider to fully participate in the ACE program can result in suspension and potentially termination from the team. ACE keeps a detailed database of the test results which only ACE scientist have access. ACE then provides Slipstream’s medial staff and team directors with the published testing results.

ACE scientists in collaboration with specialist consultants monitor the testing data with an eye out for changes that might represent doping by one of the riders.

What happens when ACE has a concern about the test results of one of your riders?
This process starts with ACE contacting Slipstream’s team doctor. The situation is discussed and reviewed by Slipstream’s team doctor and the team’s executives and the involved rider. Once everyone involved has had the opportunity to provide input, ACE scientists in collaboration with the Slipstream Sports team doctor arrive at a decision concerning the abnormality. This decision will range from further testing without suspension, to further testing with suspension, to possible termination from the team.

What if a rider is sick?
A sick or injured rider’s testing continues uninterrupted in the ACE program. The ACE program is a 52 week per year commitment. If an abnormal test result occurs, the specifics of the illness and how it may have played into the abnormal result would be considered by the ACE scientists and Slipstream team doctor.

What if a rider needs a prescription? How does that impact his tests?
The Slipstream Sports team doctor is responsible for all medications prescribed to our riders except in emergency situations when he is not with the rider or immediately available and emergency care must be sought from the nearest source.

Otherwise all medications are prescribed in accordance with the WADA list of banned and restricted substance. Banned substances and procedures are those that are never allowed under any condition. Restricted medications are those that can be used only with authorization by WADA, the most common being an asthma inhaler. Other medications typically wouldn’t effect biomarker profiles, but again would be considered in the process if abnormal test results occur.

Is it possible for a Slipstream Sports rider to test positive while in the ACE program?
Unfortunately, yes. While we are confident that ACE’s testing program is very tight and represents a major step forward in the anti-doping fight, probably no system can yet claim to be 100% fool-proof.

We’re also proud that we have created a team environment in which the motivation and risk of doping are absolutely minimized. The ACE program, our anti-doping team environment, along with the specific riders and staff we choose to join our program all work towards keeping Slipstream free of doping.