"As long as blood is worth money, cycling will continue to fight itself" - Oier Lazkano's resurfaces doping worries

Doping is a topic that has for many years been a part of cycling and that is something that will not likely come to an end in any foreseeable future. Whilst previously, many riders were caught after their wrongdoings after the testing system evolved, the case of Oier Lazkano brings worries that some riders or doctors may be ahead of the testing system and getting away with it.

Now, it must be said, it is not the case with Lazkano in specific. The Spanish rider has been suspended provisionally by the UCI and fired from Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe due to the UCI's statement, after in April he had a house raid which saw him handing over some of his personal belongings and data.

But Lazkano's case is important because of the specificity. The Spaniard has not tested positive for any substance, and that is most likely why he hasn't suspended earlier. The anti-doping authorities have on four occasions - from 2022 to 2024 - identified suspicious levels in his biological passport, but have not been able to prove what the Spaniard has done exactly. That is why he is only provisionally suspended, with the possibility of still being cleared at some point in the future - although his reputation has been permanently stained.

“A rider earning a million dollars, riding for one of the most modern teams in the world – it feels like 2006 in a new guise," British journalist Jack Davey said. "As long as blood is worth money, cycling will continue to fight itself."

It is difficult to see in the near future that the battle against doping in the sport will be fully won but there are valid concerns that other riders are being able to alter their physiological abilities through new means that aren't being identified or known by the authorities. And Lazkano is a clear example of what is possible.