Aegis Sponsors Cycling Team, Pledges Rigorous Drug Testing

UnitedHealthcare cycling team in training (image courtesy Aegis)

Nashville-based Aegis Sciences is sponsoring a team in the doping-plagued sport of cycling. The company says this is the first time a pro cycling team and a sports drug-testing lab have partnered.

A news release says cyclists will receive drug testing from Aegis that goes “above and beyond” what’s required. If it sounds like a conflict to have the team sponsor conducting its own drug tests, Aegis CEO David Black says it’s not. Outside agencies do the official testing. Black says the in-house findings are meant to keep the team’s cyclists even cleaner. At most, he says, the Aegis results may be used to contest positive findings by the league.

“We might look at the data and disagree with the conclusion reached, the interpretation of the data. We currently do that in all major sports.”

UnitedHealthcare is the lead sponsor of the team, which began competing internationally last year and has yet to be invited to the sports’ most well-known races.

Aegis currently runs drug testing programs for NASCAR, Indy Car and World Wrestling Entertainment.