“The Colombian rider Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas has been sanctioned for a violation of the ban on the use of tramadol in competition”, explains the UCI in a press release, specifying however that it is not a question of “violations of the rules anti-doping” and that the rider can appeal within 10 days.
The UCI specifies that the two samples of dried blood provided by the rider were analyzed on July 8 (7th stage) and July 13 (11th stage) during the Great Loop and revealed the presence of tramadol.
As this is a first offence, Nairo Quintana (32) remains eligible and can therefore take part in competitions.
The Arkéa-Samsic team, which announced Tuesday the extension of the Colombian until 2025, is counting on its leader to lead the team during the Tour of Spain which starts Friday from Utrech in the Netherlands.
Since March 1, 2019, the UCI has banned the use of tramadol in competition in all disciplines and categories “in order to preserve the health and safety of riders given the side effects of this substance” explains the UCI in its communicated.
This disqualification allows Romain Bardet (DSM) to move up to 6th in the final general classification of the 2022 edition of the Tour de France and Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) to join the Top 10.
At the start of the last stage of the Tour, Quintana said he was not in his best shape. “The last few days I haven’t been very well, a little difficult to breathe, but the team’s work in general has been very good and we are in the top ten of the Tour de France,” he said. .