The International Testing Agency has apologised to Valentina Cavallar, the Austrian professional cyclist who revealed at the weekend that she was subjected to a drug test at her family home just hours after her mother’s death.
Cavallar, a former Olympic rower who now races for SD Worx-Protime, criticised the timing of the test in an emotional Instagram post, branding it “deeply painful, profoundly out of place, and disrespectful”.
However, in a statement issued to road.cc, the International Testing Agency (ITA) – the independent body responsible for implementing the anti-doping programme for the UCI and other sporting federations – insisted that no concerns or objections to the test were raised by Cavallar at the time, though officials had been informed of the circumstances following their arrival.
25-year-old Cavallar, who joined SD Worx from Arkéa-B&B Hotels this year, finished ninth overall at the Giro d’Italia and 12th at the Vuelta Femenina, but pulled out of the Tour de France Femmes ahead of the final stage in Nice. She has not raced since.
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In her Instagram post, published on Saturday, she explained the reason behind her break from racing, following the death of her mother on 5 September.
“Losing my mum in September has changed the way I see life forever,” the Austrian wrote.
“You can spend so much of your life chasing goals, pushing your limits, measuring success in results, victories and achievements. But losing someone you love makes you realise how little of that truly matters in the end.”
She continued: “What made this experience even harder was that just a few hours after my mum had passed away, I had to undergo a doping control at home, in the room next to where she lay.
“I understand the importance of clean sport, and I have always respected the responsibility that comes with being a professional athlete. But in that moment, I was clearly not thinking about cycling, competition or my responsibilities as an athlete. I was a daughter who had just lost her mum.
“Having to navigate a doping control in those circumstances felt deeply painful, profoundly out of place and disrespectful towards my family. It was a moment that made me reflect on how easily we can forget that behind every athlete, there is a human being with a life, a family and emotions that do not simply disappear when the responsibilities of professional sport begin.
“I believe in clean sport. But I also believe that humanity, compassion and respect should never be forgotten.”
After being approached by road.cc, the International Testing Agency said it had apologised to Cavallar for the timing of the test, but stressed that no objections had been made by the rider at the time of the control.
“The International Testing Agency (ITA) extends its sincere condolences to Valentina Cavallar and her family following the loss of her mother,” the agency told road.cc.
“Since learning about the circumstances of the sample collection which took place on 5 September 2026 on Valentina Cavallar, the ITA looked into the context of the test.
“Neither the ITA nor the Doping Control Officer (DCO) were aware of the rider’s personal situation prior to arriving at her home. The DCO was informed of her mother’s passing upon arrival.
“According to the information gathered by the ITA since the rider’s Instagram post, Ms Cavallar and her family cooperated fully with the procedure, and no concerns or requests to postpone or discontinue the control were raised at the time or afterwards.
“Faced with an exceptionally sensitive situation, the DCO, with the rider and her family’s support, endeavoured to pursue the procedure as discreetly, respectfully, and swiftly as possible.”
The ITA continued: “We fully recognise that undergoing a doping control in these circumstances has added to her distress experienced at an extraordinarily painful time. We have been in touch with the rider directly and apologised.
“The ITA remains committed to ensuring that the protection of clean sport goes hand in hand with respect, compassion and care for athletes.
“We will also continue to always encourage athletes to report any concerns either during or after a doping control, so the ITA can take the appropriate measures to ensure a proportionate balance between the fight against doping and every athlete’s right to privacy and wellbeing.”
3 thoughts on “Anti-doping agency apologises to pro cyclist for drug test carried out hours after mother’s death, but says “no concerns or requests to postpone the control were raised at the time””
“no concerns or requests to postpone the control were raised at the time”
Which could be simply because of power imbalance.
Athlete simply know the power of the anti-doping agencies and try to avoid any conflict in fear of consequences.
Please don’t get me wrong, neither I do try to imply that person who did the test was willingly using it’s stronger position over the athlete nor I try to say that anti-doping controls are unnecessary.
But I think the inspectors should be trained to handle such and other situations.
@MatzeLoCal Indeed. It’s notable that the agency’s excusing of itself makes much of the fact that the athlete did not raise any concerns; in such circumstances, where the athlete’s thoughts and actions are going to be severely disrupted by her grief, it shouldn’t be up to her to raise any objections. As soon as the testers were advised of the circumstances they should have immediately offered her the option of postponing the test. If they had and she said no it’s okay to carry on that would be some mitigation, but clearly they didn’t.
Olympic cyclist opens his front door to find a policeman standing on his doorstep.
“Mr A Cyclist, I’m sorry to inform you that your wife and children have just been hacked to death in the shopping centre by an assailant with a machete.”
“Oh shit! I’d better contact the drug testing people at once and let them know that I won’t be training at the velodrome today.”