UK Anti Doping says cyclist Dan Staite was targeted for testing after tip-off

UK Anti-Doping confirmed this morning that the suspension of cyclist Dan Staite, reported on road.cc last week, resulted from information provided by “an outside source.”

The national anti-doping agency said in a statement that after corroborating the allegations and conducting its own research, it decided to specifically target the rider, which led to a urine sample taken from the Cycles Dauphin rider in March at the National B event, the Roy Thame Cup, testing positive for EPO and an aromatase inhibitor.

The National Anti-Doping Panel subsequently banned Staite from competition for two years, although UK Anti-doping had pressed for that to be doubled to four years as a result of what it called “the aggravated circumstances of the case,” including Staite’s refusal to co-operate with the investigation.

It added that “whilst the Panel sympathised with UK Anti-Doping they decided against doing so on this occasion.”

UK Anti-Doping Chief Executive Andy Parkinson, commented: “This decision clearly points to an athlete who chose to cheat his way to achieving his sporting aims. As a result of effective collaboration with other partners and our analysis of intelligence from external sources we executed a testing strategy that resulted in a cheating athlete being banned from sport. Our only disappointment in this case is that the panel did not extend the ban to four years.”

Bob Howden, Chair of British Cycling’s Anti-Doping Commission added, “We are naturally disappointed that a cyclist has been found guilty of doping; however, this case shows that the comprehensive testing programme that operates at all levels of the sport is delivering results.”

He continued: “We have a no-tolerance policy towards doping and we are committed to working closely with UK Anti-Doping to eradicate the use of performance enhancing substances from our sport. Mr Staite’s example is a warning to all athletes, both amateur and professional, that cheats will be caught and that cycling must be, and must be seen to be, a drug-free sport.”