Ukrainian rider disqualified from World Championships after testing positive for tramadol

35-year-old Ukrainian rider Mykhaylo Kononenko has been disqualified from the men's road World Championships after a dried blood sample revealed the presence of tramadol in his system.

Tramadol, which is a powerful painkiller is not classed as a performance-enhancing drug however it has been on the list of substances banned by the UCI since March 2019. As this is Kononenko's first offence he will be disqualified, a second offence will result in a 5-month ban.

Kononenko, who has previously ridden for a number of continental clubs, most recently the Turkish Sakarya BB Pro Team in 2022, finished 43rd in the men's elite road race in Wollongong and was part of the Ukrainian team that came 12th in the mixed relay event.

He will now have 10 days to decide whether or not he wishes to appeal the ruling, however as seen recently by Nairo Quintana and his appeal after being disqualified from the Tour de France also for a positive tramadol test, appeals do not always end in the required result.