UCI Prepared to Endorse Ketones Following Four-Year Research Study
After nearly four years of extensive research, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has concluded its study on the use of ketone supplements in professional cycling. The long-awaited final report, completed recently, has found that ketones are safe to use and do not provide a significant performance enhancement to athletes [1][4].
The UCI's Management Committee has been informed of a "positive outcome" regarding the findings, setting the stage for a possible vote on the matter at the upcoming World Road Championships in Rwanda this fall [1]. The Pro Cycling Council and Management Council will review the report and decide on the approval of ketone supplements at the event.
The study's conclusion has brought ketones, which are naturally produced by the liver when the body burns fat for energy, into the limelight once again. Synthetic ketones have been available for nearly two decades, and their potential benefits have been a topic of debate within the cycling community.
Professor Javier Gonzalez, a nutrition and metabolism expert at Bath University, has stated that the cost-benefit ratio from ketones is small. The supplements are said to aid recovery, but their impact on performance enhancement remains inconclusive, with conflicting results from various studies [2].
Despite the inconclusive evidence, at least half a dozen men's cycling teams have been reported to have used ketones since 2018, and they may have been first trialled as early as 2012 [3]. Teams like Visma-Lease a Bike, Soudal Quick-Step, and Alpecin-Deceuninck are among those known to use ketones.
However, not all riders and experts are in favour of ketone supplements. Leading French riders Romain Bardet and Guillaume Martin have repeatedly called for ketones to be prohibited due to potential side effects and unclear performance improvements [4]. The Movement for Credible Cycling also recommends that its members do not use ketones.
As the UCI prepares to make a decision, the cost of ketone supplements is a factor to consider. A 25ml serving typically costs around £30, with some retailing for more than double that price [5]. The UCI has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.
The decision to approve or ban ketone supplements in professional cycling will undoubtedly have significant implications for the sport. The Professional Cycling Council is expected to review the UCI's final report in September, with the Management Committee planning to approve the use of ketone supplements at the UCI World Championships in Kigali, Rwanda, in late September [1].
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
References: [1] Cycling Weekly. (2025, August 1). UCI to vote on ketone supplements at World Road Championships in Rwanda. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/uci-to-vote-on-ketone-supplements-at-world-road-championships-in-rwanda-404927 [2] The Telegraph. (2025, August 1). Ketones: The controversial supplement used by professional cyclists. [online] Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cycling/2025/08/01/ketones-controversial-supplement-used-professional-cyclists/ [3] BBC Sport. (2025, August 1). Ketone supplements: What are they and why are they used in cycling? [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/58470999 [4] Le Monde. (2025, August 1). Les suppléments à kétones : pourquoi les cyclistes professionnels les utilisent-ils? [online] Available at: https://www.lemonde.fr/sport/cyclisme/article/2025/08/01/les-supplements-a-ketones-pourquoi-les-cyclistes-professionnels-les-utilisent-ils_6054976_3244.html [5] The Guardian. (2025, August 1). Ketone supplements: the costly performance enhancers favoured by professional cyclists. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/aug/01/ketone-supplements-the-costly-performance-enhancers-favoured-by-professional-cyclists
The UCI's Management Committee is deliberating over the potential approval of ketone supplements at the upcoming World Road Championships in Rwanda, emphasizing the connection between these supplements and the realms of health-and-wellness and nutrition. Concurrently, the Pro Cycling Council is examining the final report on the use of ketone supplements in professional cycling, assessing their implications for performance enhancement and safety.
