Lotto-Soudal rider Tosh Van der Sande suspended after positive test at Ghent Six Day

The team say the Belgian tested positive for a permitted substance, but the rider has still been suspended

Tosh Van der Sande has been suspended by Lotto-Soudal (Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA)
(Image credit: Yuzuru SUNADA)

Tosh Van der Sande has been suspended by Lotto-Soudal after he returned a positive test during the Ghent Six Day in November.

The team say the Belgian returned a positive test for a permitted substance, but they have still taken the decision to suspend him.

Van der Sande has ridden his entire career for Lotto, joining in 2012.

The rider announced his positive test to the team on Wednesday, when bosses took the decision to suspend him.

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According to the team, the unnamed substance occurs in a nasal spray that is permitted providing a rider mentions it during a doping test.

The team is now expecting a UCI investigation.

A statement from Lotto-Soudal, released on Wednesday, said: “Today Lotto-Soudal was notified by its rider Tosh Van der Sande of a positive doping test during the Six Days of Ghent where he took part between November 12 and 18, 2018.

“The substance is a permitted one and occurs in the nasal spray Sofrasolone, that is freely available to be used in competition of mentioned during a control.

“After a meeting with the rider, the board has decided to suspend him, in expectation of the investigation executed by the UCI and to allow the rider to underpin his defence in the best possible way.

“Lotto-Soudal will give no further explanations until the UCI procedure has terminated.”

Van der Sande, 28, has ridden six Grand Tours for Lotto – four times the Vuelta a España and twice the Giro d’Italia.

He rode the Ghent Six Day in November alongside team-mate Jasper De Buyst, the duo finishing in third place.

The event was won by Deceuninck-Quick – Step pairing Elia Viviani and Iljo Keisse.

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Alex Ballinger

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.