The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) today announces that its Disciplinary Commission has decided to lift the provisional suspension of Eduard Vorganov, the Russian rider whose sample collected during an out-of-competition control on 14 January 2016 returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for Meldonium. As provided by the UCI Anti-Doping Rules (ADR), Mr. Vorganov requested the lifting of his provisional suspension. Under the UCI ADR, such request is examined by the UCI Disciplinary Commission. Under the UCI ADR a provisional suspension can be lifted where the Rider establishes the assertion of the Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) has no reasonable prospect of being upheld, or that there is a strong arguable case that he bears “No fault or Negligence” for the ADRV asserted, or some other facts or circumstances exist that, in the UCI Disciplinary Commission’s opinion, make it clearly unfair to impose or maintain the Provisional Suspension. After analysing the case, the Disciplinary Commission decided to lift the provisional suspension against Mr. Vorganov.
For the sake of clarity, the case is not yet resolved as the results management is ongoing. At this stage and until the adjudication of the case, the UCI will not comment any further.
(*) Meldonium is classified as S.4.5.3 “Hormone and Metabolic Modulators” and has been added on the Prohibited List on 1 January 2016. (**) Article 7.9.5.4 A mandatory Provisional Suspension under Article 7.9.1 may be eliminated if the Rider demonstrates that the violation is likely to have involved a Contaminated Product. A decision of the UCI Disciplinary Commission not to eliminate a mandatory Provisional Suspension on account of the Rider’s assertion regarding a Contaminated Product shall not be appealable. A Provisional Suspension under Article 7.9.1, 7.9.2 or 7.9.3 may further be eliminated if the Rider or other Person establishes that (a) the assertion of an anti-doping rule violation has no reasonable prospect of being upheld, or (b) that there is a strong arguable case that he or she bears No Fault or Negligence for the anti-doping rule violation asserted, or (c) some other facts or circumstances exist that, in the UCI Disciplinary Commission’s opinion, make it clearly unfair to impose or maintain the Provisional Suspension. A decision of the UCI Disciplinary Commission not to eliminate the Provisional Suspension may be appealed in accordance with Article 13.2. [Comment: The ground under (c) is to be construed narrowly and applied only in truly exceptional circumstances. For example, the fact that the Provisional Suspension would prevent the Rider or other Person from participating in a particular Competition or Event shall not qualify as a circumstance for these purposes.]