Judge approves nighttime doping tests for Tour de France

A Paris judge authorized a series of nighttime doping tests targeting top contenders at the Tour de France, a procedural step that has ignited a fierce debate over athlete welfare and anti-doping efficacy. The International Testing Agency (ITA) petitioned the judge for permission to conduct tests outside the standard 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. window, leading to controls on the night of July 18-19. Race leader Tadej Pogačar was tested at 5 a.m., while his rival Jonas Vingegaard was visited at 2 a.m. just hours before stage 15 in the Alps.

Vingegaard subsequently crashed during that stage, suffering a broken collarbone that forced his withdrawal from the race. Pogačar described the 2 a.m. test on his rival as "inhuman," suggesting the sleep disruption may have been a contributing factor. Vingegaard himself acknowledged the necessity of testing but questioned the timing, stating, "I was sleeping very well. It's good that they test, but when it's affecting performance and your sleep, I don't think it's so good." The ITA stated it is conscious that such testing disrupts rest and recovery but said it has a responsibility to ensure the effectiveness of the anti-doping program.