Cycling-CAS confirms the disqualification of Quintana from the Tour de France

Colombian rider Nairo Quintana’s disqualification from the Tour de France after testing positive for a banned opiate painkiller was upheld after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dismissed his appeal on Thursday.

Quintana, a former Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana winner, finished sixth overall and was disqualified after analysis of two dried blood samples revealed the presence of tramadol and its two main metabolites. The 32-year-old denied using tramadol, which is banned under UCI medical rules governing the sport but only banned in competition. Its use is not considered an anti-doping violation and Quintana will not serve as a ban.

It is not on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of banned substances but will be banned by the body in 2024. “The panel deliberated and determined that the UCI’s ban on tramadol in-competition was for medical reasons. rather than doping and was therefore within the power and jurisdiction of the UCI,” CAS said.

“Furthermore, the Panel was comfortably satisfied that the scientific evidence showed that the samples from Nairo Quintana contained both tramadol and its two metabolites. On this basis, the Panel concluded that the challenged decision should stand and dismissed the appeal.” Quintana, a three-time Tour de France podium finisher, withdrew from this year’s Vuelta in August and left his team Arkea-Samsic last month.

The UCI banned the use of tramadol in competitions across all of its disciplines in March 2019 to protect riders from side effects caused by the substance. “This decision reinforces the validity of the ban on tramadol in the UCI Medical Regulations in order to protect the health and safety of riders,” the UCI said in a statement.

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