Cyclist says doping test came hours after her mother’s death

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  Austrian cyclist Valentina Cavallar said she underwent a doping test at home just hours after her mother died.

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  She described the test as painful and disrespectful to her family.

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  Cavallar said she supports clean sport but called for humanity, compassion and respect for athletes.

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  The incident has renewed scrutiny of how anti-doping procedures account for riders’ welfare.

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  Cavallar rides for SD Worx-Protime and has not raced since withdrawing from the Tour de France Femmes.

Who

Austrian cyclist Valentina Cavallar.

What

She said she underwent a doping test at home hours after her mother died and criticized its timing.

When

The test took place in September, a few hours after her mother’s death. Cavallar shared her statement on social media on Sunday.

Where

At Cavallar’s home, in a room next to where her mother lay.

Why

The test was part of anti-doping controls; Cavallar said she believes in clean sport but that the circumstances were painful and disrespectful.

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