The UCI and the Movement for Credible Cycling (MPCC) have expressed concern about the use of the powerful opioid painkiller tapentadol in professional cycling, according to a report in the Swiss newspaper Le Temps.

The UCI highlighted its concerns about the possible use of tapentadol at a meeting of the Professional Cycling Council last month.

According to Le Temps, the UCI asked and received permission from WADA late last year to include tapentadol in its monitoring program.

This action echoes the way the UCI monitored tramadol use through anti-doping controls before outlawing its use in competition starting in March 2019. In January of this year, tramadol was added to WADA's list of banned substances.

Tapentadol was first developed by the German pharmaceutical company Grünenthal in the 1980s; it received FDA approval in the United States in 2008 and was approved in Europe two years later. The opioid is a Class A controlled substance in the United Kingdom and a Schedule I controlled substance in Canada, in the same class as morphine, fentanyl, tramadol, and heroin.

The UCI explained its concerns to representatives of riders, teams, and race organizers at the Pro Cycling Council on May 29; Le Temps quotes the minutes of the meeting: "The UCI expressed its concern about a new substance called tapentadol, which is a class A controlled substance that is not controlled in Canada. A more detailed analysis is needed, but if used, it is believed to be 10 times stronger than tramadol."

The UCI also expressed concern about a new substance called "tapentadol," which is believed to have a higher strength of tramadol than tramadol.

MPCC President Roger Rouget admitted to Le Temps that he had submitted a letter to WADA calling for a ban on tapentadol, similar to the MPCC's longstanding stance against tramadol.

"It took 12 years for tramadol to be banned. This time, we hope the authorities will act quickly," Legay said.

"Healthy athletes do not need to rely on remedies of this nature. Furthermore, it should be emphasized that analgesics reduce or eliminate pain and are performance-enhancing factors."

"The authorities should be aware that the use of analgesics is not a cure for pain, but rather a means of improving performance.

Currently, eight World Tour teams, including Bora-Hansgrohe, Cofidis, Decathlon-AG2R, Groupama-FDJ, DSM-Filmenig-Post NL, Intermarche-Wanty, Arkea-B&B Hotels, and EF Education-Easy Post are MPCC members.