Cycling: On Wednesday, the UCI had to announce bad news for cycling. A dozen drivers tested positive at the Vuelta a Costa Rica, including overall winner Juan Carlos Rojas Villegas (Frijoles Los Tierniticos). Those affected are waiting for the B sample to be opened, but are already temporarily suspended.
Tested positive on 36th birthday
The 53rd Tour of Costa Rica was held from December 18th to 27th last year. Over ten stages proved Juan Carlos Rojas Villegas as the strongest driver. He won the Vuelta a Costa Rica for the fifth time, and he also celebrated two stage victories. That joy has now come to an abrupt halt. The 36-year-old tested positive with eleven other protagonists on December 22nd. Ironically, that day was his birthday.
A whole team was doped
Eleven convicted drivers tested positive for the blood doping agent CERA and one for EPO. All of this happened just a few weeks after the Tour of Colombia. There were eight positive doping tests. As the UCI explained on Wednesday, the Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation (CADF) planned and successfully carried out the campaign. Support was provided by the National Anti-Doping Agency, the Costa Rican Cycling Federation and the Costa Rican Institute for Sport and Recreation. In a press release, the UCI announced that all affected riders have been provisionally suspended pending a decision. In addition to the overall winner, you also caught the third overall Cesar Andres Rojas Villegas (Frijoles Los Tierniticos), as well as the winner of the fourth stage, Vladimir Fernández Torres (Scott-Tele Uno). Particularly curious: All seven drivers of the Frijoles Los Tierniticos team are among the twelve convicted.
All the 7 riders of Extralum-Frijoles Los Tierniticos tested positive for CERA in the 2017 Vuelta in Costa Rica. Surely an all-time record. pic.twitter.com/pgV0vH6jft
— Mihai Cazacu (@faustocoppi60) 31 January 2018