The Chilean Olympic Committee (COCH) has ‘disaffiliated’ the Chilean Cycling Federation (FECI), after reports of maladministration and concealment of information culminated with the provisional suspension of two cyclists for doping. The CNCD has threatened to report the COCH to the International Cycling Union (UCI) for violation of Article 6.6 of the UCI Constitution, which mandates that national federations should manage their affairs without the influence of third parties. The COCH said it had invited José Manuel Peláez, Vice President of the UCI and President of the Pan American Cycling Confederation, to Chile to discuss how to resolve the situation. 

The two cyclists featured on an updated list (PDF below) of adverse analytical findings (AAFs) published by the National Commission for Control of Doping (CNCD) on 25 June. Constanza Paredes Martínez returned an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for erythropoietin (EPO), and Fernando Silva Adasme returned an AAF for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine. Both have been provisionally suspended, but their cases have yet to be heard.

‘We express our deepest concern regarding the situation noted above and several other anomalies covered by our bylaws that have been detected and reported about the Chilean Cycling Federation’, read a COCH statement. ‘Because of this, at an extraordinary general meeting to deal with these matters, the Board of the COCH has decided to disaffiliate the Chilean Cycling Federation in accordance with our Statutory rules, subject to approval and review by our Legal Commission. We have concluded that a radical change is needed in the conduct of this sport, which has been tainted by administrative disorder, concealment of relevant information, and repeated anti-doping rule violations.’

The COCH statement also referred to allegations made by Paola Muñoz, who told El Dínamo that national team selections were not being made on merit alone. The FECI said that the COCH had not previously informed it about any of the allegations. 

‘When the Board of Directors of the COCH decides to expel the FECI, we are being denied the right to due process, enshrined in our Constitution and law, which means the Federation could take any legal action it deems pertinent’, read a statement. ‘This also violates Article 6.6 of the UCI Constitution, which says that Federations must direct their internal affairs with total independence, ensuring that third parties do not interfere. The same article also indicates that any attempt to interfere must be reported to the UCI, which we hope will not be necessary, since the UCI could suspend Chilean cycling from participating in international events, including the Lima 2019 Pan American Games.’

The COCH said that the two provisionally suspended cyclists have been withdrawn from the entry list for Lima 2019, which takes place from 26 July to 11 August. The COCH proposed that Muñoz should replace Paredes Martínez, however said that she had turned the nomination down.