Nairo Quintana disqualified from the Tour de France 2022, because of a “breach of the ban on the use of tramadol”

Earthquake in the peloton. Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samsic) was “disqualified from the Tour de France 2022“, of which he had ranked sixth, for medical infraction, announced the International Cycling Union (UCI). The news was communicated this Wednesday afternoon. In total, the 32-year-old Colombian is accused of two checks carried out during the Grande Boucle, which revealed the presence of tramadol and its two main metabolites.

“Colombian runner Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas has been sanctioned for violating 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 “anti-doping rule violations” and that the rider can appeal within 10 days. The UCI specifies that the two dried blood samples 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.

Quintana can take part in competitions

As this is a first offence, Nairo Quintana 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 uax 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 runners given the side effects of this substance“explains the UCI in its press release.

This disqualification allows, pending a possible appeal before the CAS, 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 to integrate the Top 10. At the start of the last stage of the Tour, Quintana had declared that he was not in his best shape. “I haven’t been very well for the last few days, a bit of trouble breathing, but the work of the team in general has been very good and we are in the top ten of the Tour de France.“, he had said.

The Arkéa-Samsic formation was satisfied with a rather laconic press release. “The Arkéa-Samsic team took note of the notification from the UCI and received by Nairo Quintana informing him of the presence of Tramadol in two samples of dried blood collected during the last Tour de France. Since March 1, 2019, the UCI Medical Regulations have provided for the prohibition of Tramadol in competition for medical reasons. Moreover, this violation of the UCI medical regulations does not lead to a suspension for the rider. The Arkéa-Samsic team will not provide any further comment.”

(With AFP)