Quintana's appeal fails, Colombian officially disqualified from Tour de France

Nairo Quintana was not suspended from racing, but following his Tour de France, blood samples on two different stages accused positive tests for the substance tramadol, a painkiller. The Colombian appealed, but the UCI have officialized the disqualification today.

Quintana rode to 6th place at the Tour de France, with a set of performances that saw him close to his best level at the Grand Tours. The Colombian however was later removed of those results. Today the UCI has confirmed the verdict: "The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) welcomes today's decision rendered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirming the disqualification of Colombian rider Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas from the 2022 Tour de France for an infringement of the in-competition ban on using tramadol," the press release said. 

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Although Quintana will not be suspended or banned, he has been stripped of his result at the Tour. The suspension almost spelled disaster for Arkéa Samsic who were in a tight battle for UCI points to rise to World Tour level, and the points have been lost. The French team will enter the World Tour in 2023, however without Quintana.

The two had agreed on a three-year extension before the Tour, but following the case it has been scraped off, and he did not participate in the Vuelta a Espana. His defense was unsuccessful, and currently Quintana does not have a team for the coming season, and sits in a very difficult position. He is however currently in Colombia, training in preparation for what could be a complicated year. 

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UCI statement on the award rendered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the case of Nairo Quintana bit.ly/3NA6DGS

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