The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the International Testing Agency (ITA) announce that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed the appeal filed by Colombian rider Miguel Ángel López against the decision rendered by the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal on 29 May 2024. The CAS issued a press release on this matter earlier this afternoon.
The CAS confirmed that Mr López committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) for use and possession of a prohibited substance (Menotropin)*, concomitantly with the 2022 Giro d’Italia and upheld the four-year suspension imposed on him by the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal (25 July 2023 – 24 July 2027).
As a reminder, the disciplinary proceeding was initiated following an investigation conducted by the ITA based on evidence obtained from the Spanish Guardia Civil and the Spanish Anti-Doping Organisation (CELAD) in the so-called Operation “Ilex” concerning Dr Marcos Maynar.
The UCI and the ITA welcome this ruling, which reflects their commitment to protecting the integrity of cycling. The CAS award will be published in due time on the UCI website.
The UCI will not comment further on the matter.
*Menotropin is a Prohibited Substance under class S2.2 [Peptide Hormones and their releasing factors] of the Prohibited List which is maintained by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and adopted by the UCI.