South African rider leaves Tour of Britain Women after adverse analytical finding in doping test

Former South African road champion S’annara Grove left the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women on Friday after she was provisionally suspended by the International Testing Agency (ITA).

The 32-year-old did not start stage three of the Women's WorldTour race after she was handed an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for Ipamorelin, a peptide, by the ITA.

Grove, who won the South African National Championships road race last year, was racing the Tour for Smurfit Westrock, a British Continental squad. The test was taken during the Commonwealth Games, where she represented South Africa on the track.

The statement from the ITA reads: "The ITA reports that a sample collected during an out-of-competition testing mission conducted by the Commonwealth Sport on 28 July 2026 from S’annara Grove, a rider from South Africa, has returned an AAF for ipamorelin. The test was carried out in the scope of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which took place in Glasgow, Scotland, from 23 July to 2 August 2026.

"Ipamorelin is prohibited under the 2026 WADA Prohibited List as S2. Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics. It is prohibited at all times (in- and out-of-competition) and is a non-specified substance. Ipamorelin is a synthetic peptide used to stimulate the body’s natural production of growth hormone.

"The rider has been informed of the case and, in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and Article 6.2.1 of the UCI Regulations for Results Management, a mandatory provisional suspension has been imposed on the rider. The rider has the right to challenge the provisional suspension and ask for its lifting.

"Given that the case is underway, there will be no further comments made."

Smurfit Westrock have been contacted for comment on the case. The stage that Grove did not start was won by Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal) atop the Great Orme on Friday, which moved the Mauritian champion into the race lead.