PARIS: Colombian Nairo Quintana has been retrospectively disqualified from this year’s Tour de France after testing positive for tramadol, the International Cycling Union (UCI) announced on Wednesday.
Former two-time runner-up Quintana, 32, finished sixth overall in the race which ended on July 24. The pain medication has been banned by the UCI since 2019.
“As this is a first offence, Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas is not declared ineligible and can therefore participate in competitions,” the body said.
On Tuesday, Quintana’s Arkea-Samsic team announced he had signed a contract extension until 2025 and has been included in their squad for the Vuelta a Espana which begins on Friday.
Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2022
