Barry Forde (born September 17, 1976) is a Barbadian former professional track cyclist who specialized in sprint disciplines. He is recognized as one of the most successful cyclists from the Caribbean, having achieved podium finishes at the international level, including the UCI Track Cycling World Championships.
Early Life and Career Forde was born in Saint James, Barbados. He followed in the footsteps of his father, Colin Forde, who was also a competitive cyclist and represented Barbados at the 1968 Summer Olympics. Barry Forde rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s, competing primarily in the individual sprint and Keirin events.
Major Achievements Forde’s career highlights include significant success at regional and global competitions:
- UCI Track Cycling World Championships: In 2003, Forde won a bronze medal in the men's sprint in Stuttgart. In 2005, he secured a silver medal in the Keirin at the championships held in Los Angeles.
- Pan American Games: He was a multiple-time medalist at the Pan American Games, notably winning gold in both the sprint and Keirin events at the 2003 Games in Santo Domingo.
- Central American and Caribbean Games: He earned several gold medals across multiple editions of these games, establishing his dominance in regional sprinting.
Anti-Doping Violations and Life Ban Forde's career was marked by two significant doping violations. In 2005, he tested positive for excessive levels of testosterone and was subsequently handed a two-year suspension. He returned to competition following the ban but faced a second violation in 2011.
In March 2011, Forde tested positive for Erythropoietin (EPO) during an out-of-competition control. Due to this being his second serious anti-doping rule violation, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) imposed a lifetime ban from the sport. Following the announcement of the ban, Forde retired from professional cycling.