Tiernan-Locke’s two-year doping ban upheld
The Sky rider tested positive in September 2012 and was eventually hit with a two-year ban
LONDON, (AFP) — Former Sky rider Jonathan Tiernan-Locke’s two-year suspension for breaching doping regulations was upheld on Monday after UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) rejected his appeal against the sanction.
Tiernan-Locke’s ban was announced by the International Cycling Union (UCI) last month after he was found to have provided irregular blood samples in September 2012. Sky subsequently terminated his contract.
At a hearing last month, the 29-year-old claimed there had been anomalies in his biological passport because he had gone on a drinking binge with his girlfriend to celebrate a new two-year deal with Sky.
But in a statement released Monday, UKAD said: “The explanation provided by the rider … did not sufficiently explain the abnormal values obtained from the sample.”
A doctor who presented evidence on behalf of Tiernan-Locke said that he had been left dehydrated after consuming around 33 units of alcohol two days before the blood sample was taken.
Tiernan-Locke had previously been stripped of his 2012 Tour of Britain victory and his 19th-place finish at the 2012 UCI Road World Championships.
His ban will run until December 31, 2015.