Yuki Kitai and then the girls! Doping scandal shakes the bicycle racing world, and active athletes complain, “Violators are still out there.

A “metabolic candidate” who has become a powerhouse.

Yuki Kitai (35, Kanagawa), an elite rider in the “S-class S-team,” to which only the top nine riders in the bicycle racing world are allowed to belong, was found to have been doping. This was the first time in history that a member of the “S-class S-team” had been stripped, causing a stir, and a new shock struck the world of bicycle racing.

On March 25, the JKA, the governing body of bicycle racing, announced that Yumika Noguchi (32, Oita), a Girls Keirin rider, had tested positive for banned substances in a doping test conducted during the Omiya F1 event in February.

Kitai’s violation was announced to the general public on February 20, but the bicycle race officials were informed of it as early as early February. JKA took the situation very seriously and conducted a doping test at the race immediately afterward, and Noguchi’s violation was discovered.

One of the girls competing in the Omiya F1 race reported on SNS that she had been tested for doping after the race, but later deleted the post, leading some fans to ask, “Did someone get caught?” The post was later deleted, causing some fans to ask, “Did someone fall for it?

Noguchi’s performance was so poor at the time of his debut that he was considered a candidate for the metabolic syndrome (sacking). However, after moving from Gunma to Oita, his performance improved. Although not in the top class, he has become a consistent player who is involved in the tickets in the general competition. It would be shocking if doping is widespread even among riders at this level. ……” (a sports newspaper reporter in charge of bicycle racing)

After the discovery of Kitai’s doping violation, Yushi Matsuura (34, Hiroshima), winner of the 2023 KEIRIN Grand Prix, wrote in his Net Keirin column,

I think this is an act of trampling on athletes who put their lives on the line, and it is unforgivable. Doping tests are always conducted at every KEIRIN Grand Prix, but I don’t think the current testing system is sufficient to “ensure fairness.

He harshly criticized the current testing system.

Meanwhile, Akinari Nakagama (28, Osaka) replied to a fan’s question on his X (formerly Twitter),

This time it just happens to be Kitai-san.

He also hinted that there were other suspicious players in the tournament.

Players with rapidly declining results appear.

Since the beginning of March, Noguchi had missed two consecutive races due to “other absences. Kitai had also been absent for the same reason until his doping violation was publicized, and it was well known among those involved that he had violated doping laws.

The reason for absence is generally clarified as “illness” in case of absence due to injury such as falling off the bike, or “family reasons” in case of absence due to a funeral of a relative, for example. Other Absences Other absences” are mainly used in the case of rule violations during a race or when a driver is suspended for misconduct, as was the case with Y, who was arrested in 2021 on suspicion of indecent exposure.

In the case of rule violations during a race, an official announcement is made, but if the ‘other absences’ continue for more than three months without an announcement, it is highly likely that the penalty is for doping violations or misconduct,” (bicycle race track staff).

The JKA has decided to conduct doping tests for G2 and higher races for some time to come.

There are still several strong riders who have been whispering about doping suspicions,” he said. After Kitai’s violation was publicized, there are rumors that he stopped going to a well-known clinic in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, which provides muscle-enhancing outpatient services, and went all the way to a clinic in the Tokai area.

Grade races of G2 or higher are held almost once a month. If testing becomes mandatory, they will have no choice but to stop doping. There may be a number of riders who will see their results drop sharply in the future.

The top riders are calling for the establishment of a strict inspection system. We hope that this will be an opportunity for the bicycle racing industry to become cleaner. ……