Cycling's doping protocols are facing scrutiny after Austrian rider Valentina Cavallar revealed she was subjected to a drugs test mere hours after her mother's death. Cavallar, who rides for SD Worx-Protime, described the incident as "deeply painful, profoundly out of place and disrespectful towards my family."
Cavallar shared her experience in a social media statement on Sunday, explaining her decision to end her 2026 season for personal reasons following her mother's passing in September. She stated that the test occurred at her home, in the room next to where her mother lay.
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) requires riders to provide daily one-hour whereabouts windows, and they may also be tested outside these times. This incident has reignited debate over how the sport balances its anti-doping efforts with consideration for riders' health and welfare, following similar discussions earlier this summer regarding out-of-hours testing at the men's Tour de France.