Colombia denies taking tramadol
By Kevin Kemp
Nairo Quintana (Arkéa – Samsic) in the official photo session before the Vuelta. | Photo: Cor Vos
08/18/2022 | (rsn) – On Twitter, Nairo Quintana (Arkéa – Samsic) denied taking the banned opioid tramadol. The World Cycling Union UCI previously announced that Colombia had tested positive for tramadol twice during the Tour de France. This is a violation of the so-called UCI medical regulations, but not a doping offense. This year’s 6th Tour de France was disqualified.
“The announcement from the UCI surprised me. I strongly deny that I have taken this drug. I have never used tramadol in my entire career,” Quintana claims now. Because the drug is not on the doping list, the two-time Grand Tour winner will not be banned.
Contrary to his original announcement, Quintana has since canceled his participation in the Vuelta. He announced his resignation in four languages: “I inform you that I will not participate in the Vuelta because I want to focus on my defense before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). I will compete again at the end of the season,” announced the 32-year-old, who attended the official photo session for the 77th Tour of Spain, which began on Friday in Utrecht. His team only wrote a thin text to confirm the UCI report, but did not want to comment further.
Quintana wants to challenge his disqualification from the Tour. “We are now preparing my defense with my legal team,” he announced. The South American and his team have 10 days to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.