2023-08-01 19:37:10
24 hours after the UCI press release, it’s time for a response and denial. Alex Baudin came out of silence on Tuesday to deny the suspicions of doping that have weighed on him since the announcement of a positive control for tramadol during the Giro last May.
This test, which resulted in his disqualification from the Tour of Italy, also led to his exclusion from the AG2R-Citroën group “as a precaution”. In a statement posted on Twitter, the young French runner indicates that he will appeal this decision which, he says, has plunged him into “misunderstanding”. “Since my youngest age, I have practiced this sport that I love so much with ethics and respect (…) I hope that all this will be sorted out as soon as possible”, he declares. Alex Baudin, 22, who took part in the Clasica San Sebastian on Saturday, finished in 73rd place in the Giro.
Last year, Colombian climber Nairo Quintana was disqualified from the Tour de France 2022 for using this synthetic opiate. Since 2019, the UCI has banned the use of tramadol, this painkiller widely used in cycling, which was not, however, part of the list of prohibited substances of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) until recently but which will be from January 1, 2024.
The side effects of the drug can range from headaches to fatigue, but above all cause loss of attention or elongated reaction times, which are dangerous for cyclists. The product is also known to pose risks of addiction.
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