Juan-Jose Lobato hospitalised after taking sleeping medication and may lose contract

Team LottoNL-Jumbo are to decide on whether to dismiss Juan-Jose Lobato and two other riders after they were hospitalised having taken sleep medication that was not provided by or used in the team.

Lobato, Antwan Tolhoek and Pascal Eenkhoorn were sent home from a training camp in Girona earlier this week.

NOS.nl reports that 20-year-old Eenkhoorn was found in the hall, confused and acting strangely. Tolhoek was then found in a similar state, while Lobato couldn’t be woken.

Team management made ever more vigorous efforts to rouse him and the team doctor advised that they call an ambulance.  

While the Spaniard woke before it arrived, he Tolhoek and Eenkhoorn were all taken to hospital.

The team has not said what the substance was, beyond that it was a liquid with a dropper and isn’t a banned substance.

In a statement, the team said: “Team LottoNL-Jumbo has expelled Juan-José Lobato, Antwan Tolhoek and Pascal Eenkhoorn from the training camp in Girona for disciplinary reasons. The three riders had used or were in possession of (non-doping-related) sleep medication that was not provided by or used in the team. This is a serious violation of the strict regulations of the cycling team.

“Because of their unacceptable behaviour, the team’s management has expelled the three riders indefinitely. At a meeting with all riders and staff present earlier this evening, the entire team strongly distanced themselves from this behaviour, which contravenes the core values of the team. The three riders involved were also present. Where necessary, they shall be guided to prevent recurrence.”