Cycling’s open secret, doping, is once again thrust into the spotlight by the German documentary, Doping Top Secret: In the Slipstream (Geheimsache Doping: Im Windschatten). Released in November 2023 by ARD, the film, helmed by a team of investigative journalists, doesn’t just rehash old news; it alleges that sophisticated doping practices persist, challenging the narrative of a reformed sport.
Unveiling the documentary
Doping Top Secret: In the Slipstream isn’t a mere retrospective. It’s a contemporary investigation that relies on whistleblower accounts and expert analysis to paint a picture of a peloton still shadowed by performance-enhancing drugs. The documentary comes at a time when cycling is already facing tensions surrounding the route for the final stage of the 2025 Tour de France, adding further controversy to the sport’s landscape.
The film’s core argument: despite advancements in detection, the culture of cheating adapts, thriving through methods like microdosing and the use of previously obscure substances like Aicar.
Allegations and unearthed evidence
The documentary levels specific charges, supported by voices from within the sport. One whistleblower bluntly stated, “If you believe nothing illegal has been taken during the Tour de France since 2015, that’s a joke. I was there myself and noticed that doping was still going on.”
The film highlights two primary concerns in modern doping practices:
- EPO microdosing: Administering erythropoietin in minuscule, undetectable doses while still gaining performance benefits
- Aicar usage: A metabolic modulator that enhances blood circulation and alters muscle fibers, described as “the drug of choice in the peloton”
Echoes of the past: A historical mirror
The allegations in the documentary deliberately echo cycling’s infamous scandals from the EPO era to Lance Armstrong’s downfall. These aren’t just historical footnotes; they’re cautionary tales that inform the present debate about whether cycling has truly cleaned up its act or merely evolved its methods of deception.
Pierre Sallet, a former exercise physiologist for Tour organizer ASO, doesn’t mince words: “I can’t explain what I see on the road… the performances we see are sometimes as if someone is 3 meters tall.”
The divided peloton: Reactions to the film
The documentary has predictably polarized the cycling world. Veterans of the sport and rising stars like Mexican cycling star Isaac Del Toro find themselves navigating a landscape where past sins continue to cast long shadows over present achievements.
Some riders express weariness that the past continues to haunt the present, while teams invariably tout their commitment to clean sport. However, the documentary’s claim that 14 of 18 WorldTour teams employ staff with doping-related baggage raises uncomfortable questions about cycling’s commitment to reform.
The anti-doping arsenal: A constant arms race
Modern anti-doping efforts represent a complex and evolving battle between detection and deception. The biological passport, enhanced testing protocols, and intelligence gathering have improved the sport’s ability to catch cheaters, but critics argue these efforts are constantly outpaced by the ingenuity of dopers.
Oliver Catlin, an American doping expert, highlights the challenge: “If I were an athlete, would I take Aicar, knowing that it is on the list of banned substances? Or would I take a related product that is not on the list?”
Credibility on the line: The enduring impact
Recurring scandals have taken a significant toll on fan trust and commercial investment in cycling. The sport continues to struggle with its credibility, similar to how it deals with protests and challenges faced on the Giro d’Italia stages and other major competitions.
Documentaries like Doping Top Secret serve as both a stark reminder of past failures and a potential catalyst for change, forcing the sport to confront its demons rather than simply moving forward.
The road ahead: A fork in the path
Cycling stands at a crossroads. The film’s allegations demand a response that goes beyond platitudes about increased testing. For the sport to truly progress, it must address the cultural and systemic issues that have allowed doping to persist despite decades of scandals and promises of reform.
Doping Top Secret: In the Slipstream is more than just a documentary; it’s a challenge to cycling’s conscience and a test of its willingness to truly change.
