Simon Yates handed four-month ban for ‘non-intentional’ doping
British cyclist Simon Yates has been given a four-month ban after failing an in-competition drugs test. The sanction applies from March and Yates, 23, will miss the Tour de France but hopes to return later in July.
News of the test was revealed in April, with his team Orica-GreenEdge blaming an “administrative error” over the use of an asthma inhaler. The team said they took “full responsibility for the mistake” and there was “no wrongdoing” by Yates.
The UCI said in a statement that the rider had “been sanctioned with a period of ineligibility of four months for a non-intentional anti-doping rule violation committed on 12 March 2016.” Yates will return at the Tour of Poland, which starts on 12 July, according to Orica-GreenEdge.
The team’s general manager Shayne Bannan said in a statement: “Simon cannot be blamed, but above all we are happy that it has now come to a conclusion. Simon has been training well and we welcome him back on the roster for a strong second part of the season.”
Yates’ twin brother Adam is due to lead Orica-GreenEdge at the Tour de France. Both are strong contenders to make the Great Britain road race team for the Rio 2016 Olympics this summer, which takes place on 6 August.
