MyWhoosh has today announced a “first of its kind” anti-doping initiative for virtual racers on its cycling platform.
The indoor cycling app says the random drug tests will “strengthen trust in elite virtual racing and protect clean athletes” and “represents a major step in MyWhoosh’s commitment to professional standards”.
MyWhoosh, which hosts the UCI ESports World Championships, says the riders in its prize-money events such as the Sunday Race Club and MyWhoosh Championship will now face random drug tests.
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Prize money in the events can range from $20 to $2,170, and MyWhoosh reportedly paid out more than $5 million last year.
In collaboration with International Doping Tests & Management (IDTM), MyWhoosh will pick riders at its discretion through random selection, podium finishes, performance data or “intelligence-led targeting”.
Notification may occur shortly before, during or immediately after an event.
Selected riders will be notified remotely and must stay in their declared location for up to three hours after an event to provide urine, blood or dried blood spot samples to testing personnel.
“Failure to comply with testing instructions, including refusal, evasion, or tampering, may result in severe sanctions such as disqualification, prize money claw-backs, and suspension from the platform,” MyWhoosh says.
Matt Smithson, director of esports & game operations at MyWhoosh, says: “The introduction of anti-doping and integrity testing is about protecting fair competition and rider trust.
“As our Sunday Race Club grows, the standards around fairness must match the seriousness of the event. Our goal is to protect clean riders and ensure that our global community can trust in the integrity of every podium finish.”
The programme will be active from Sunday 10 May, with the first round of testing scheduled to begin on Sunday 17 May.
MyWhoosh says it will use the World Anti Doping Authority’s Prohibited List.
The platform says the new testing will work alongside its “existing integrity systems”, which monitor hardware, software and performance data verification.
“By integrating biological testing with technical verification, MyWhoosh continues to lead the industry in providing a fair environment for the world’s best e-sports athletes,” it says.
