Entire Brazilian cycling team facing second ban after breaking anti-doping rules

Two riders from Soul Brasil Pro Cycling break anti-doping rules, after the team were suspended for 55 days last year for three of their riders testing positive

An amateur racer has been banned for doping

(Image credit: Yuzuru Sunada)

The Soul Brasil Pro Cycling team are facing a second blanket ban from competition after two of their riders committed Anti-Doping Rule Violations.

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announced on Monday afternoon that Brazilian rider Alex Correia Diniz has been provisionally suspended due to an adverse passport finding, and fellow Brazilian Otavio Bulgarelli has been provisionally suspended for 'tampering'.

The team, then racing under the name Funvic Soul Cycles-Carrefour, were suspended en masse in December last year for 55 days after three of their riders had tested positive within a 12-month period.

>>> Entire Brazilian team suspended after three doping positives

Colombian Ramiro Rincon Diaz and Brazilians João Marcelo Pereira Gaspar and Kleber Da Silva Ramos from the Professional Continental-level team all failed tests for EPO CERA.

The previous ban expired on February 12 2017.

The team now faces a second ban from competition, which under UCI rules can range from 15 days to 12 months. The UCI's Disciplinary Commission will decide on the length of suspension at a future date.

Last week, the team was in action at the Volta a Catalunya in Spain. Spanish rider Jordi Simon was the squad's only finisher, in 39th place overall.

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Nigel Wynn
Former Associate Editor

Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.