Simon Yates says he is “very embarrassed and ashamed” at the positive drugs test that will force him to miss next month’s Tour de France after the UCI handed him a four-month ban, and that he fears that it will leave a stain on his reputation.
The Orica-GreenEdge rider is banned until 11 July after testing positive for the anti-asthma drug, Terbutaline, during Paris-Nice in March.
> Four-month ban for Simon Yates
His team’s doctor had made what Yates, an asthmatic, described as an “honest mistake” in failing to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) that would have allowed him to compete while using the drug.
Announcing the ban on Thursday, the UCI acknowledged that the British rider had committed a “non-intentional anti-doping rule violation,” something reflected in the relatively short duration of the sanction.
Yates, whose twin brother Adam also rides for the Australian WorldTour outfit, said in a statement: “I have dedicated the last 13 years of my life to the sport of cycling.
“I have worked incredibly hard in this period and am proud of all my success to date.
“Unfortunately as a result of an honest mistake of my team doctor, whom I trusted wholeheartedly, there will now be a doubt cast over my name, my previous results and any future glories.
“I would like to apologise to my colleagues for once again casting our sport in a negative light,” he added.
“I am very embarrassed and ashamed of this whole situation but I am determined to move forward thus will not be making any further comment publicly about the case.”
On Friday, Orica-GreenEdge said that Yates will return to racing at the Tour de Pologne, which starts the day after his ban ends.
Reacting yesterday to news of Yates’s ban, British Cycling president Bob Howden said that the organisation “welcomes the verdict of the UCI that this was a non-intentional doping violation and I also believe his team Orica Green Edge deserve credit for their conduct.
“We are fully supportive of this process, the outcome of which is a warning for all riders and all teams to ensure that they are fully compliant with anti-doping regulations and procedures,” he added.
10 thoughts on “Simon Yates “ashamed and embarrassed” at doping ban”
Seems a bit harsh considering
Seems a bit harsh considering weight of opinion is that it’s not performance enhancing. Oh well, rules are rules and all that.
Yorkshire wallet wrote:
Read some of the studies! There is a lot of information suggesting it has a long term performannce enhancement on muscle processing as well as the short term gains on oxygen absorption and lung function.
There are clear reasons that this is one of only 2 asthma drugs that are prohibited at normal dosages out of the 13 treatment options available. There are 3 other options that are prohibited at doses 5-8 times above the therapeutic levels (so you have to be very clearly abusing them to be in trouble) and the other 8 options you can take as much as you want. Why is he on the dodgy option in the first place? And since he is on it why is he not absolutely focussed on making sure his paperwork is in order?!
4 months is a joke. If he was a Russian athlete we would all be screaming for 2 year to life. Does no-one remember Lance’s post-dated testoterone cream that was influential in these rules being revised to their current format?
I think the UCI have got this
I think the UCI have got this one right.
Two years would have been Draconian, one year too harsh and no sanction would have sent out the wrong message. Four months in the middle of the season is a sharp rebuke and a reminder to other teams and riders of their responsibilities.
I do not feel that comparisons to Lance Armstrong and Eastern European athletes are valid or warranted in this case.
Having said all that, I do feel that there needs to be more research into Exercise Induced Asthma (EIA) and the possible abuses of TUE’s.
He doped. He knew it, the
He doped. He knew it, the team doctor knew it. Banged to rights.
Judge dreadful wrote:
@JudgeDreadful good to know you have the inside line 😀
Judge dreadful wrote:
I’m liking the summary justice…..you are the LAW !!!!!
I agree on the length of his
I agree on the length of his ban as he did fail a drugs test, however the team Dr should be the one sacked for making a mistake in what is a very simple procedure.
I know both Yates brothers have ambitions to ride for Sky so it will be interesting to see how this is viewed considering their zero tolerance policy.
I rather thought that he had
I rather thought that he had been using it as a therapeutic treatment for a long time and that both the condition and the treatment were known about. However, a positive test without the appropriate paperwork in place is a violation of the rules – hence the short ban.
Whether his or his doctor’s choice of medication has anything to do with additional benefits I wouldn’t care to say, but I suggest that treatment of the medical condition is the first priority.
He has been a lifelong asthma
He has been a lifelong asthma sufferer, and this has indeed been known by everyone for a long time. He had asthma before he had a pro cycling career. And his medical records support this. As do the memories of some of his youth cycling competitors.
This is very different to finding someone laced with EPO….unless of course Lance and others are claiming they had a fundamental issue with red blood cell production for all their lives and had previously held an exemption for using substances to address this. Lance’s only time he could have legitimately used EPO is when he was on chemo….that’s what it was developed for. And it’s a wonder drug for people then. But that is very different to an asthma treatment.
So Orica GreenEdge made a
So Orica GreenEdge made a mistake, whoops. Now Simon Yates has fewer clubs to choose from if he were to look for a new contract. Mmmmm, maybe not such a bad mistake for them.