Last Monday (31), through an official statement, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) informed that Alex Baudin, of AG2R Citroen, is disqualified from this year’s Giro d’Italia for using the painkiller tramadol in his last samples of blood.
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Despite not being considered a form of doping, the use of the drug was banned by the UCI in March 2019 due to the side effects of its ingestion, which could affect the performance of athletes, such as increased drowsiness, nausea, dizziness, indigestion, among others. others.
As it was the athlete’s first punishment, Alex Baudin only suffered disqualification from the competition and will soon be able to race in other matches scheduled on the UCI calendar. In all, the Institution stated that when reviewing all the blood samples that were collected, 64 showed the presence of tramadol.
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“Analyses of two dried blood samples provided by the rider on May 24, at the 17th stage of the 2023 Giro d’Italia, revealed the presence of tramadol and its two main metabolites. In accordance with the UCI Medical Rules, and after a thorough examination of the case, the rider is disqualified from the 2023 Giro d’Italia. This decision can be appealed before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within the next 10 days”, said the statement from the regulatory body.
The UCI continued to publish about the act committed by the athlete: “Infringements of the in-competition ban on using tramadol are infractions under the UCI Medical Rules. They do not continue anti-doping rule violations. As this is the first offense, Alex Baudin is not declared ineligible and can therefore participate in competitions.”
At the end of the Giro d’Italia, the cyclist remained in 73rd place in the general classification and, when questioned by the UCI statement, did not comment on the matter. His team, AG2R Citroen, stated that it will not comment on the case. If in another circumstance, the athlete commits another infraction, he will be suspended for five months.
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