Spanish cylist Carlos Barredo is facing disciplinary action from cycling’s governing body for allegedly breaking the blood-doping rules.
His Dutch team Rabobank have suspended the 31-year-old pending the outcome of the case against the rider launched by the International Cycling Union. The UCI are targeting Barredo, who insists he is innocent of any doping offences, over apparent drug violations relating to the blood profile on his biological passport. In a statement on Wednesday the UCI emphasised Barredo’s right to the presumption of innocence until a final decision had been made and said they would not be providing any further information. Rabobank isssued their own statement explaining that Barredo has always denied to them any involvement in doping. “If it appears that this statement is not true, then that is unacceptable to the team,” the Dutch team declared.
They added: “Pending the judgment of the Spanish Federation and the outcome (of the proceedings), Carlos Barredo is suspended. “The Rabobank team stands behind the blood passport, the team stands for a clean sport. The Rabobank team is co-initiator of the blood passport and helps to improve the blood passport.”
Barredo will now have to try to prove that there was nothing untoward with his blood levels between the period in question, 2007 to 2011, or face a two-year ban for doping.