UCI appeals Kolobnev dope punishment

Kolobnev in 2006, when he rode for
Rabobank. He was signed to Katusha
when he gave his positive sample
(image credit: Heidas CC BY 2.5)

The international cycling federation apparently feels that the imposition of a €1120 fine was an insufficiently harsh penalty for the Russian rider after he tested positive for the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide at the 2011 Tour de France.

Alexandr Kolobnev, aged 30, was 69th place overall when he tested positive during the first week of the race and was prevented from continuing by Team Katusha in accordance with UCI rules. The Russian Cycling Federation claimed after investigation that it had taken into account "mitigating circumstances," the nature of which have not been revealed. The rider voluntarily suspended himself pending investigation, and while B-sample was also subsequently tested and found to contain traces of the substance he escaped formal suspension.

Hydrochlorothiazide is not itself a performance-enhancing substance, but has been used in an attempt to mask the presence of other drugs to allow athletes to pass anti-doping tests.