On the day that the Portuguese Anti-Doping Authority announced a greater transparency for the results of rider controls, a rider from one of the country’s Continental teams has been provisionally suspended by the International Cycling Union (UCI).
Eladio Jimenez Sanchez of the Centro Ciclismo de Loulé – Louletano team has been advised of his provisional suspension, according to the UCI, after an “Adverse Analytical Finding of recombinant EPO”. The sample was taken after his victory in stage 6 of the Volta a Portugal on August 12th; he went on to finish sixth overall in the race.
33-year-old Jimenez Sanchez turned professional with Banesto in 1998, spending six years with the team, before switching to Comunidad Valenciana in 2004. In 2006 he was implicated – although never sanctioned – in connection with Operacion Puerto and switched to the smaller Karpin – Galicia team when Comunidad Valenciana folded. He has been riding for Portuguese teams – almost exclusively in Portuguese races – for the past two years.
He has won three stages of the Vuelta a España in his 12-year career, but his biggest win was the overall at the Euskal Bizikleta in 2005.
He will remain provisionally suspended until a panel from the Spanish Cycling Federation determines whether he has committed an anti-doping violation. He may of course, in the meantime, ask for the B-Sample to be analysed.
There is currently no information as to whether Jimenez Sanchez wishes to contest the charges, or as to why it has taken this long for the non-negative finding to be announced.