The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has announced today that it has notified Russian rider Eduard Vorganov of an Adverse Analytical Finding of Meldonium in a sample collected during an out-of-competition control on 14 January 2016.

The rider has the right to request and attend the analysis of the B sample. In accordance with the UCI Anti-Doping Rules (UCI ADR), the rider has been provisionally suspended until the adjudication of the affair.

This constitutes the second anti-doping rule violation for a member of the UCI WorldTeam Katusha within a twelve month period. On 10 July 2015, UCI WorldTeam Katusha rider Luca Paolini was notified of a positive test for cocaine in a sample collected during an in-competition control on 7 July 2015 and disciplinary proceedings are ongoing before the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal. 

Therefore, as per article 7.12.1 UCI, the UCI will refer the matter to the Disciplinary Commission which will render a decision in the coming days. The rule means that Katusha is likely to face a one-month suspension from racing as it happened to Androni-Venezuela in 2015.

Meldonium is classified as S.4.5.3 “Hormone and Metabolic Modulators” and has been added on the Prohibited List on 1 January 2016.