The surge in virtual cycling has transformed the competitive landscape, with participants from around the world vying for supremacy. Following the rise of cash awards, a leading online platform has initiated a significant advancement by implementing anti-doping measures for e-cyclists.
MyWhoosh, the organizer of the UCI Esports World Championships, has informed the Guardian that top contenders in its weekly Sunday Race Club will now undergo random drug testing post-race.
The competition features prize amounts ranging from $2,170 (£1,593) for elite cyclists to $20 (£14) for novices, with many participants racing from their homes or garages.
Under the new policy set to commence next week, selected athletes will be notified before, during, or after their races that they must remain on-site for up to three hours for testing. This allows personnel from the International Doping Tests & Management team to arrive and collect urine, blood, or dried blood spot samples.
Matt Smithson, the director of esports and game operations at MyWhoosh, shared with the Guardian that approximately 700 athletes will be included in the initial testing group, with an objective of testing at least 10% annually.
Smithson emphasized that the drug-testing initiative is part of a broader integrity program aimed at curbing virtual doping practices, such as manipulating equipment calibrations to exaggerate performance data, misrepresenting body weight, or employing bots to simulate high power outputs.
“Our mission is to safeguard clean competitors and uphold the trustworthiness of our global community regarding every podium finish,” he commented. “No other sport requires comparisons between individuals racing from garages in different countries simultaneously. This presents unique challenges, and we view this as a crucial advancement in our evolution.”
He further noted, “If someone is cheating, they are likely doing so mechanically. However, we have implemented numerous verification measures to counteract this. Racers must utilize a designated trainer to compete, providing data in two different formats. Additionally, we conduct what we call a power passport test, which includes film verification to confirm the identity of the racer. This allows us to monitor their power output, heart rate, and other physiological metrics, creating a comprehensive profile of each athlete.”
“Our groundbreaking drug-testing initiative is designed to ensure that all participants feel they are competing on an equitable basis,” he added.
Although Zwift remains the predominant online cycling platform, MyWhoosh reportedly has amassed hundreds of thousands of registered users and awarded $5 million in prizes last year.
Smithson remarked, “This new policy signifies a pivotal step in what I envision as the future of cycling competitions. Over the next two decades, virtual cycling is poised for substantial growth. We are just beginning this journey.”
Notably, virtual cycling has already attracted numerous elite athletes, including Jason Osborne, the reigning UCI cycling esports world champion, who is also a silver medalist from the 2013 World Rowing Championships and a former professional road cyclist.
