Team Sky Riders And Staff To Sign Anti-Doping Pledge

After the damaging case of disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong, who has been accused of being a serial drug cheat, Team Sky has told its riders and management to sign a pledge declaring they have never doped.

Team Sky made it very clear that those don't sign would be thrown off the squad. The team said we would ask everyone, including riders and the management, to sign up to a written policy for confirming that they have no past or present involvement in doping. The team includes Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins, runner-up Chris Froome, and top sprinter Mark Cavendish and said it wants to "reaffirm" its commitment to a clean sport.

Dave Brailsford, the boss of Team Sky, informed his charges of the policy on the first day of their end-of-season camp. The statement from the team also added that it is important to be open about the steps we are taking and Team Sky wants only those members who are free of the risks of doping and the new rule applies to management, support staff, and riders.

After the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) released a lengthy and detailed report accusing Lance Armstrong and his United States Postal Service team of widespread doping, Team Sky sports director Sean Yates who worked with Armstrong when they were both employed by the Motorola and Astana teams denied any knowledge of doping. A key member of Sky's 2012 Tour-winning team, Australian Michael Rogers who worked with disgraced doctor Michele Ferrari, also denied using performance enhancing drugs.