Nairo Quintana (Credit: Thomas SAMSON / AFP) (Photo by THOMAS SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images)
(CNN Spanish) -
Colombian cyclist Nairo Quintana announced that he is withdrawing from the Vuelta a España competition that starts this Friday.
In a video published this Thursday on his official Instagram account, Quintana stated that "he is not in a position" to compete and that he prefers to "return home" to "organize and prepare" his legal defense in the following days.
The cyclist was informed this Wednesday by the International Cycling Union (UCI) that he had been disqualified from the 2022 Tour de France for the use of the drug tramadol in the competition.
What is and what is tramadol for, the drug for which the Colombian cyclist Nairo Quintana was sanctioned
In its statement, the UCI made it clear that the use of tramadol does not constitute "an anti-doping rule violation" but rather a violation of the prohibition on the use of that substance, which aims to protect the safety and health of runners. in light of the side effects it may cause, as established by the organization's medical rules.
This Wednesday, through a statement, Quintana rejected the accusation.
"I am completely unaware of the use of this substance and I deny having used it in my career," he said.
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The cyclist assured that "with my team of lawyers we are exhausting all the processes to assume my defense."
At that time, he also confirmed that he would compete in this edition of the Vuelta a España.
Nairo Quintana
