Antonio Colom is looking to race once again in 2010 and has asked the Spanish Federation to lift his doping suspension. Colom was provisionally suspended in June when an out of competition doping control done in April tested positive for the banned blood-booster EPO. At the time he was a member of the Russian Katusha team.
The Spaniard has maintained his innocence in the matter, and has asked his federation to withdrawal his suspension on the basis of what he claims is an International Cycling Union (UCI) investigation rife with errors. The rider has submitted a fifty page report written with is lawyer that he says will clear his name, according to the website Wielerland.
Colom was having a strong 2009 season before his suspension, winning his home race, the Mallorca Challenge, stage three of the Volta ao Algarve, stage eight of Paris-Nice, and finishing second overall to Alberto Contador in the Vuelta al País Vasco.
The UCI said that the doping control was targeted based on the rider's racing schedule and biological passport, which demonstrates the growing effectiveness of the governing body's new anti-doping program.