{"id":110830,"date":"2021-08-03T04:53:57","date_gmt":"2021-08-03T04:53:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=110830"},"modified":"2021-08-03T07:59:52","modified_gmt":"2021-08-03T07:59:52","slug":"controversy-rocks-danes-record-breaking-ride","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=110830","title":{"rendered":"Controversy rocks Danes' record-breaking ride"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Danish track cycling team has been called into question after a curious use of medical tape was spotted during their Olympic<\/a> record-breaking ride to qualify fastest for the gold medal race.<\/p>\n

Denmark set an Olympic record during the qualifying rounds of the men's team pursuit with a time of 3:45.014 to put them in pole position for gold.<\/p>\n

OLYMPICS LIVE BLOG: UPDATES, LATEST NEWS<\/strong><\/em><\/a> |<\/strong><\/em> TOKYO GAMES EVENT CENTRE: SCHEDULE, RESULTS, MEDAL TALLY<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

But their incredible time was quickly called into question due to the use of kinesiology tape, with all four riders using strips of it on the exposed flesh on their lower legs.<\/p>\n

In an event where every hundredth of a second matters, the tape drew questions relating to an unfair aerodynamic advantage.<\/p>\n

\"Medical<\/p>\n

Current UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) rules state: "Socks and overshoes used in competition may not rise above the height defined by half the distance between the middle of the lateral malleolus and the middle of the fibula head."<\/p>\n

With no clear messaging surrounding the use of medical tape, which is common for athletes managing injuries, at first glance it doesn't appear the Danes technicaly broke any rules, although the controversy is understood to be under investigation.<\/p>\n

The UCI is yet to make an official comment<\/p>\n

Former British racing cyclist and Olympian Chris Broadman questioned the ethics behind the team's decision to use tape.<\/p>\n

"Every rider with the same injury on both legs requiring 'medical tape' down the front of their legs, coincidently exactly where it would be aerodynamically advantageous," Broadman tweeted.<\/p>\n

\"IZU,<\/p>\n

He later clarified on Twitter: "To clarify, I believe Danish team OK'd tape use with UCI.<\/p>\n

"However: Page 73 UCI regs 1.3.0033 \u2026any non-essential element of which the purpose is not exclusively that of clothing or protection, is forbidden\u2026shall also apply regarding any material\u2026not itself an item of clothing."<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/Chris_Boardman\/status\/1422179006137384967?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1422179006137384967%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.news.com.au%2Fsport%2Folympics%2Fcycling-team-busted-exploiting-olympics-loophole%2Fnews-story%2F0b6af5e249ba8c1547977dc0b5833021<\/a>https:\/\/twitter.com\/chris_pritch\/status\/1422278183995465731?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1422278183995465731%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.news.com.au%2Fsport%2Folympics%2Fcycling-team-busted-exploiting-olympics-loophole%2Fnews-story%2F0b6af5e249ba8c1547977dc0b5833021<\/a><\/p>\n

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