The UCI says it will appeal the decision of Russia’s anti-doping agency to clear Olga Zabelinskaya, the cyclist who won two medals at the 2012 Olympic Games, of doping charges.
Last year Zabelinskaya, who won bronze medals in both the time trial and the road race in London – the latter behind Marianne Vos of the Netherlands and Team GB’s Lizzie Armitstead – failed an anti-doping control for the banned weight-loss stimulant octopamine.
The anti-doping tribunal of Russia’s national cycling federation, the FSVR, has cleared her of any wrongdoing, meaning she will be able to compete at this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio, reports Inside The Games.
The cyclist had claimed that she had either ingested the substance innocently, or that the elevated levels of it that she tested positive for had been produced naturally by her body.
It is banned in-competition, but permitted in tests taken out-of-competition, and occurs naturally in a number of foods.
The UCI has confirmed that it plans to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.
In a statement provided to the Inside The Games, world cycling’s governing body said: “On December 16, the UCI filed an appeal before CAS against the RFC’S decision whereby Olga Zabelinskaya was cleared.
"Since the proceedings are ongoing, we won’t comment any further.”
News of Zabelinskaya's exoneration comes at a time when it remains unclear whether the country’s track and field athletes will be permitted to compete at Rio in the wake of a World Anti-Doping Agency report that found widespread and institutionalised doping in the country.
I had a 180g Giro Prolight helmet back in 2012. There are not many helmets I look back on fondly and with sentimental feelings for, but that was a...
I bet you proofread that one a few times!
Bronze = lasts longer than a cable tie
The speed bit is incidental to my first point which is more about how 1 close pass "poisons" a ride that maybe had 20 or 40 reasonable passes....
You're missing the point. The cassette is unforgiveable when aimed at this market and the width of the tyres not much better. You shouldnt have...
Its tragic but worth noting that this is just statistics playing out. Same happens at most mass participation sports events. The London Marathon...
Those at the back of the peleton should get a special award, they were trying to finish withing drug fueled time limits.
I'd find a physio who would have a look. They will do tests to determine where the issue lies, the extent of mobility and maybe some exercises....
An uh-oh email signifying that it took Tadej Pogacar to dethrone you, that's pretty impressive. You'd want to keep that email.
It was a bit of a tongue in cheek suggestion