LONDON: British-based cycling team Sky said yesterday it was withdrawing Colombian rider Sergio Henao from competition after an internal review led to questions over his blood values.
The 26-year-old was born at altitude in Rionegro and still lives and trains in the region. Now Sky have said Henao will be subject to an “altitude research programme”.
It may be there is nothing sinister about Henao’s results. But Sky, who have made great play of their commitment to the fight against doping following several high-profile drugs scandals, including the Lance Armstrong affair, that have damaged the reputation of cycling, have withdrawn Henao from competition for eight weeks. That move means he is unlikely to compete in the season-opening Giro d’Italia, which starts in Belfast on May 9.
“Our experts had questions about Sergio’s out-of-competition control tests at altitude — tests introduced this winter by the anti-doping authorities. We need to understand these readings better,” Sky principal Dave Brailsford told the team’s website. “We contacted the relevant authorities - the UCI (International Cycling Union) and CADF (Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation) — pointed to these readings and asked whether they could give us any insights.
“We’ve also taken Sergio out of our race programme whilst we get a better understanding of these profiles and his physiology.
“We want to do the right thing and we want to be fair. It’s important not to jump to conclusions.”
Team Sky’s Tour de France-winning duo of Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome have both been training at altitude, which builds up endurance and so helps to improve performance when cyclists, or indeed long-distance runners, compete at sea level.AFP
