SubscribeA rider from the Katusha pro cycling team riding in the Tour de France has tested positive for a banned substance after stage 5.
The rider in question, Alexander Kolobnev, reportedly had hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic that also is used as a masking agent. In a rather confusing mess (just like usual from pro cycling organizers), it’ll be up to Katusha management to send Kolobnev home.
From the UCI press release:
The UCI Anti-Doping Rules do not provide for a provisional suspension given the nature of the substance, which is a specified substance.
However the UCI is confident that his team will take the necessary steps to enable the Tour de France to continue in serenity and to ensure that their rider has the opportunity to properly prepare his defense in particular within the legal timeline, which allows four days for him to have his B sample analyzed.
Hopefully this is an isolated case, and we won’t end up with multiple doping controversies like in years past.
