The Tribunal found Miguel Ángel López guilty of an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) for use and possession of a prohibited substance (Menotropin), concomitantly with the 2022 Giro d’Italia, and has imposed a four-year suspension on the rider.
In accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and the UCI Anti-Doping Rules, the period of suspension started on 25 July 2023 and will remain in force until 24 July 2027.
As a reminder, the disciplinary proceeding was initiated following an investigation conducted by the International Testing Agency (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 welcomes this valuable collaboration.
Furthermore, in line with the Procedural Rules of the Tribunal, the decision will be published on the UCI website. The decision may be appealed before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within one month.
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.
The UCI delegated the operational activities of its anti-doping programme to the International Testing Agency (ITA) in January 2021. Since then, cycling’s clean sport efforts have been led by the ITA Cycling Unit, which is dedicated specifically to all disciplines of cycling. The UCI and the ITA are bound by a service agreement which guarantees that the ITA operates in an independent manner.
ITA welcomes the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal’s decision concerning Miguel Ángel López.
Juan Pedro López of Trek–Segafredo won the young rider classification in the Giro in 2022. He also finished in the top ten. During the race, López held the maglia rosa - a jersey showing he is leading the race - for ten days.