The 2022 edition ended on July 24, but the Tour de France still has surprises in store.

The Colombian Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samsic) was "disqualified" from the competition, in which he was ranked sixth, for a medical offense, the International Cycling Union (UCI) announced on Wednesday.

"The Colombian rider Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas has been sanctioned for a violation of the ban on the use of tramadol in competition", explains the UCI in a press release, specifying however that it is not a question of "violations of the rules anti-doping" and that the Rider may appeal within ten days.

The UCI specifies that the two samples of dried blood provided by the runner were analyzed on July 8 and 13, during the seventh and eleventh stage of the Great Loop.

They revealed the presence of tramadol, a painkiller which is not on the list of prohibited products by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Since March 1, 2019, the UCI has banned the use of tramadol in competition in all disciplines and categories "in order to preserve the health and safety of riders, given the side effects of this substance" explains the UCI in his statement.

As this is a first offence, Nairo Quintana remains eligible and can therefore take part in competitions.

Romain Bardet moves up to sixth position

In a press release issued Wednesday evening, the Arkéa-Samsic team indicated that it had "taken note of the notification from the UCI and received by Nairo Quintana", noting the absence of the cyclist's suspension.

"The Arkéa-Samsic team will not provide any further comment," she added.

The Breton formation, which announced Tuesday the extension of the Colombian until 2025, is counting on its leader to lead the team during the Tour of Spain which starts Friday from Utrecht in the Netherlands.

This disqualification allows Romain Bardet (DSM) to move up to sixth in the final general classification of the 2022 edition of the Tour de France and Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) to join the Top 10.

At the start of the last stage of the Tour, Quintana said he was not in his best shape.

"The last few days I haven't been very well, a little difficult to breathe, but the team's work in general has been very good and we are in the top ten of the Tour de France," he said. .

With AFP

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