Doping case of Michel Hessmann closed, the Visma rider receives a ban from WADA that runs until March 2025
Cycling
After more than year, Michel Hessmann's doping case finally comes to a wrap as the German rider reaches an agreement with World anti-doping agency over his positive test from June 2023. Hessmann will receive a ban that runs until March 14 next year.
Hessmann tested positive for a plasmid in June 2023, two weeks after he was part of Primoz Roglic's winning Giro team for Jumbo-Visma. The B sample also came back positive, although the German doping authority NADA accepted Hessmann's 'not consciously' explanation: he was given the least possible suspension of four months. WADA did not agree and filed an appeal, but now the case is finally closed.
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Rainer Cherkeh, Hessmann's lawyer, explained that the positive test was caused by a contamination in a widely available painkiller. The NADA also confirmed this in their report 'as the most likely cause', but the NADA still went to the CAS: the highest institution in sports law.
The settlement has given Hessmann certainty, which is important for the further continuation of his career. The German's contract with Visma | Lease a Bike ends at the end of this season and as such is not expected to be extended. Hessmann will be 24 years old at the time his suspension ends and can therefore still race in the professional peloton for a long time, although there are not that many teams willing to take the gamble on a rider with tainted doping history.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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