UCI Cycling Regulations Part 13 — Medical Rules 2026
Part 13 of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Regulations — Medical Rules, in force from 10 February 2026.
| In force | 10 February 2026 |
| Structure | Part 13 of the UCI Regulations — five chapters and an annex of medical guidelines |
| Status | Current edition |
What Part 13 governs
The Regulations of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) are divided into seventeen numbered parts, which sit alongside the Constitution and the Code of Ethics. Each article carries its own three-part number — such as 13.3.066 — whose first figure is the number of that part. This document is Part 13 of that body of regulations.
The Medical Rules cover everything from the Olympic Movement Medical Code to the role of each medical actor in cycling, health monitoring of riders, medical services at events, and the eligibility conditions for transgender athletes.
Key points
- Ban on carbon monoxide inhalation outside medical facilitiesArticle 13.3.066 — one of the newest provisions of this edition: the use of systems or equipment that enable the inhalation of carbon monoxide is prohibited both in competition and out of it. This method falls under category M1.4 of the Prohibited Methods in the Prohibited List.
- Concussion diagnosis and return to competitionSection 5 of Chapter 3 specifically governs the diagnosis of concussion and the conditions for returning to competition afterwards.
- Ban on injectionsSection 4 of Chapter 3 lays down the ban on injections — one of the oldest and best-known medical rules in cycling.
- Medical monitoring of professional teams and women's disciplinesSections 2 and 3 establish the medical monitoring regime separately for WorldTeams and ProTeams, and for the women's disciplines in road, mountain bike (cross-country), track and BMX.
- Medical actorsChapter 2 separates the roles: the UCI Medical Commission, the UCI Doctor, the UCI Medical Delegate, national doctors, team doctors and paramedical assistants — each with its own powers and responsibilities.
- Eligibility of transgender athletesChapter 5 contains a self-standing set of regulations on the eligibility of transgender athletes, in twelve sections: scope of application, eligibility conditions, case-by-case assessment, investigation and monitoring of continued compliance, disciplinary proceedings, dispute resolution, confidentiality, costs, mutual recognition, limitation of liability and transitional provisions.
- Olympic Movement Medical CodeChapter 1 incorporates the Olympic Movement Medical Code into the text of the UCI Regulations, meaning that a breach of the Code is also a breach of the UCI Regulations.
Who this document matters to
For team doctors, this document defines the limits of their professional authority and duties within the sporting framework, and a breach carries disciplinary consequences. The carbon monoxide ban is a new and significant point: because it has been placed on the list of prohibited methods, a breach falls simultaneously under the Medical Rules and the anti-doping regulations. The chapter on transgender athletes likewise has its own procedural route for proceedings and dispute resolution.