Eventually it won't.
Nairo Quintana, 32, said on Wednesday evening that he would maintain his participation in the Tour of Spain despite the announcement a few hours earlier of his disqualification from the Tour de France 2022 due to two positive tramadol tests.
The Colombian climber, stripped of his 6th place in the Grande Boucle, finally did an about-face this Thursday noon.
"I announce that I will not participate in the Vuelta to assert my reasons before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), I will come back to the racing calendar at the end of the season", he simply declared by way of communicated.
The day before, he had expressed his wish to align after having categorically refuted taking this powerful painkiller.
“I am completely unaware of the use of this substance and I deny having used it in my career.
With my team of lawyers, we exhaust all the processes to ensure my defense.
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Two positive controls on July 8 and 13
The Breton team Arkéa-Samsic loses its best element on the eve of the last Grand Tour of the season (August 19-September 11), which starts from Utrecht in the Netherlands on Friday.
On Wednesday, the training did not wish to comment on this case, contenting itself with taking note of the notification from the UCI.
"The analyzes of two dry blood samples provided by the rider on July 8 and 13, during the Tour de France 2022, revealed the presence of tramadol and its two main metabolites", assured the world cycling body.
The Colombian has ten days to appeal this decision which does not result in any suspension because if this product is prohibited by the UCI in competition, it is not by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Tramadol has been banned since March 2019. It is believed to help athletes improve their performance and overcome physical pain through its effects.
The side effects of the drug, mentioned by the international body, can range from headache to fatigue but above all cause loss of attention or elongated reaction times, dangerous for cyclists.
The product is also known to pose risks of addiction.
