Oscar Sevilla claims innocence in doping charges
'I am innocent. I feel frustration and rage,' the Spaniard says of doping charges.
Spanish rider Oscar Sevilla inisted on Saturday that he was innocent of any wrongdoing after being suspended by cycling’s world ruling body for testing positive for a banned substance.
“I am waiting for official notification from the Spanish cycling federation after which I will study the affair with my lawyers,” the 34-year-old Sevilla told the El Tiempo newspaper.
“I am innocent. I feel frustration and rage.”
A statement from the UCI on Thursday said a urine sample from Sevilla showed “an adverse analytical finding of
hydroxyethyl starch (HES)” in tests at the WADA-accredited laboratory in Bogota.
HES, a banned substance, can be used as a blood plasma substitute.
The sample was collected when Sevilla, who has raced with the Kelme, Phonak, T-Mobile and Rock Racing teams throughout a colorful career, was racing at the Tour of Colombia on August 15.
“I don’t know how this substance entered my body. I don’t know of this substance. This is the first time I have heard of it since I have been in cycling.”