Former road cyclist Christina Kollmann-Forstner suspended by UCI over links to blood doping ring
Austrian authorities passed information to the governing body
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Former road cyclist and mountain bike rider Christina Kollmann-Forstner has been suspended by the UCI over suspected links with the Operation Aderlass blood doping scandal.
The Austrian rider has been notified of a potential anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) after authorities from her country passed information to the UCI.
Kollmann-Forstner has previously ridden both on and off road, but the latest results available online are mountain bike races in September last year.
A statement from the UCI, released on Wednesday evening (May 29) said: “[We have] notified Austrian rider Christina Kollmann-Forstner of potential anti-doping rule violations (use of prohibited method and possession of prohibited method) based on information received from the law enforcement authorities of Austria in the content of the Operation Aderlass.
“After review of all elements in its possession, the UCI has decided to provisionally suspend the rider with immediate effect.”
The 31-year-old had previously ridden for the No Radunion Vitalogic team and raced the Austrian national championships on the road.
Her last road results available online are from 2013.
Kollmann-Forstner is the latest cyclist linked with Operation Aderlass, a police investigation into blood doping in the Nordic skiing world championships in Seefeld, Austria.
Police raided 16 properties and arrested nine people earlier this year during operations in Seefeld and Erfurt, Germany, and 40 blood bags were seized in the process.
A number of skiers were arrested, alongside German doctor Mark Schmidt who was linked to the former Gerolsteiner cycling team.
Gerolsteiner folded in 2008 after a number of doping scandals.
The first cyclist implicated in the scandal was Austrian former Aqua Blue Sport rider Stefan Denifl, who police encountered while investigating Dr Schmidt.
Groupama-FDJ rider and fellow Austrian Georg Preidler then quit his team shortly after, admitting that he had extracted blood to be re-infused at a later date.
Both riders are provisionally suspended by the UCI.
Then during the Giro d’Italia and Tour of California, the UCI published four more names believed to be connected with the case.
Bahrain-Merida rider Kristijan Koren has been pulled from the Giro, while Kristijan Durasek (UAE Team Emirates) did not continue in California after both were provisionally suspended by cycling’s governing body.
The UCI said it has been notified of potential anti-doping rule violations (ADRV) by both riders, a sports director, and retired Italian sprinter Alessandro Petacchi.
Durasek and Koren were both named alongside Bahrain-Merida assistant sports director Borut Božič and Petacchi.
Petacchi denied any wrongdoing.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
-
Giulio Ciccone pips Primož Roglič and Remco Evenepoel in summit finish on Volta a Catalunya stage two
Italian topples stage favourites on race's Queen stage
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Mark Cavendish's Astana team refutes claim it breached sunglasses contract
Team says it "fully respected" its sponsorship deal with sunglasses supplier Scicon
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
"Failing that drug test was the best thing that had ever happened to me"
Abuse victim and disgraced cycling champion Geneviève Jeanson finds solace in return to bike racing
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
29 cases of alleged doping recorded in cycling in 2022, but only one at WorldTour
Most came from semi-professional ranks, MPCC finds
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Spanish police crack down on doping ring, former Kelme coach questioned
Miguel Ángel López denies any involvement in statement
By Adam Becket • Last updated
-
UCI suspends continental team's licence due to doping investigation
W52-FC Porto cannot compete in any races after an investigation conducted by the Anti-Doping Authority of Portugal
By Ryan Dabbs • Last updated
-
Trial begins into French doctor and two others accused of attempting to dope cyclists
Bernand Sainz has been involved in cycling circles for the best part of six decades
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Johan Bruyneel: 'Lance Armstrong was the perfect target to be sacrificed' to clean up cycling
The former rider and team boss says in his era the choice was 'either you adapt and you dope yourself, or you disappear'
By Jonny Long • Published
-
British Paralympic hopeful cyclist banned for three years for doping offence
Erin McBride, who joined the British Cycling team after switching from athletics this year, tested positive for a banned substance
By Alex Ballinger • Published
-
Two Italian cyclists banned following doping violations
One was an amateur time trial champion
By Jonny Long • Published