Luca Paolini tests positive for cocaine at the Tour de France
UCI announces Ghent-Wevelgem winner has returned a positive sample
Luca Paolini has tested positive for cocaine following an anti-doping test conducted at the Tour de France.
The Italian rider on the Katusha team returned the positive sample on Tuesday. He will not start Saturday's stage from Rennes to Mûr de Bretagne.
A UCI statement issued on Friday evening asserts that the 38 year old has the right to request and attend the analysis of the B sample.
"In accordance with UCI Anti-doping Rules, the rider has been provisionally suspended until the adjudication of the affair," read the statement.
Although better known as a recreational drug, cocaine (benzoylecgonine metabolite), a stimulant, is on the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of banned substances.
Katusha confirmed in a statement on Friday evening that they had withdrawn the rider from the race immediately. The Russian team added that they would wait for analysis of the B sample before taking any further action.
Paolini finished 172nd, nearly seventeen minutes behind stage winner Tony Martin, on Tuesday's stage over the cobbles of northern France to Cambrai.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
One of the elder statesmen in the peloton, Paolini is famed for his well kept beard Earlier this year, he won Ghent-Wevelgem.
Thank you for reading 20 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
-
British Cycling to 'supercharge' Tours of Britain with new IMG deal
Global media company to help get medial and commercial rights into a "healthy place" in order to invest into other parts of BC
By Adam Becket Published
-
Zwift extends free Play Controllers worth $99 with all eligible Zwift Smart Trainer purchases until Monday 14th October
Deals Zwift is celebrating ten years of virtual cycling and everyone's invited
By Paul Brett Published
-
'I have to pinch myself and figure out if it's real or not, especially after all the s**t in the past': Stevie Williams ahead of World Championships debut
Welshman looking to end best ever year on a high in Zurich after Tour down Under, Flèche Wallonne and Tour of Britain Men victories
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Irish Continental level professional cyclist suspended after EPO positive
Jesse Ewart, who rode for Terengganu Cycling, has been banned until 2027
By Adam Becket Published
-
Joe Blackmore, young British winning machine, promoted to senior Israel-Premier Tech team early
Winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23 and three stage races moves up to ProTeam months early
By Adam Becket Published
-
Israel-Premier Tech to tackle Paris-Roubaix on gravel bikes
Team will ride the Factor Ostro Gravel in Sunday’s cobbled Monument
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Introducing the British rider with a 100% GC record in 2024
Victories at the Tour du Rwanda and Tour de Taiwan cap a glittering start to pro life for the 21-year-old
By Adam Becket Published
-
Israel-Premier Tech riders to be issued with blank training kit due to safety concerns after Israel-Hamas war
Riders issued with different kit for training alone if they deem it necessary
By Tom Thewlis Last updated
-
Chris Froome's boss rubbishes claims bike fit is behind lack of results
'He can talk about his bike position until the cows come home - that's still not going to earn him a position on a Grand Tour team' says Israel-Premier Tech team owner Sylvan Adams
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'It's not nice to lose in that way' - Tragic end for breakaway duo on stage six of the Giro d'Italia
Simon Clarke and Alessandro De Marchi had their dreams crushed with 200m to go in Napoli
By Adam Becket Published