The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announced that 12 Costa Rican riders were notified of an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) in samples collected December 22, 2017 during the Vuelta Ciclistica Internacional a Costa Rica.

The riders Juan Carlos Rojas Villalegas (winner of the 2017 Vuelta Ciclística), Cesar Andres Rojas Villalegas, Jewinson Leandro Varela Zuniga, Vladimir Fernandez Torres, Jose Alexis Rodriquez Villalobos, Jason Huertas Araya, Jose Irias, Gabriel Eduardo Marin Sanchez, Melvin Mora Garita, Kevin Murillo Solano and Jordy Sandoval were notified of an AAF of CERA*. The rider Jeancarlo Padilla was notified of an AAF of EPO*.(*CERA and EPO are classified as “Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics” as per the World Anti-Doping Prohibited List).

These intelligence-led doping controls were planned and carried out by the Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation (CADF), the independent body in charge of defining and implementing the anti-doping strategy in cycling, with the assistance of the Federación Costarricense de Ciclismo (Costa Rican Cycling Federation), the Comisión Nacional Antidopaje de Costa Rica (National Anti-doping Commission of Costa Rica) and the Instituto Costarricense del Deporte y la Recreación (Costa Rican Institute of Sports and Recreation – ICODER).

The riders have the opportunity to request and attend the analysis of the B sample.

In accordance with UCI Anti-Doping Rules, the riders have been provisionally suspended until the adjudication of the matter.

At this stage of the procedure, the UCI will not comment any further on any of these cases.

Juan Carlos Rojas has won the famous cycling event six times. Rojas, has faced suspension before, when in 2007 the Costa Rica Cycling Federation gave him a two year suspension for the use of an illegal substance during an event in El Salvador.