Press release: UKAD Confirms Two-Year Ban for Professional Cyclist Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
18 August 2014
UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has today confirmed that professional cyclist Jonathan Tiernan-Locke has been suspended from sport for two years following an anti-doping rule violation.
The independent National Anti-Doping Panel found Mr Tiernan-Locke to be in violation of Article 21.2 of the UCI Anti-Doping Rules in using a prohibited substance (an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent) and/or prohibited method (blood doping) to boost his levels of haemoglobin. This was based on expert opinion on the conclusions drawn from a blood sample taken on 22 September 2012 under the UCI Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) programme. This sample was assessed against four further samples taken to build a profile of the rider’s blood.
The Panel found that the explanation provided by the rider during a hearing on 1 and 2 July 2014 did not sufficiently explain the abnormal values obtained from the sample. Consequently they imposed a two-year period of ineligibility from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2015. The Panel also disqualified the rider’s results from the 2012 Tour of Britain and the 2012 UCI Road World Championships. Mr Tiernan-Locke has not appealed this decision.
The full written decision can be found on the UKAD website.
UKAD Director of Legal Graham Arthur said: “This is the first Athlete Biological Passport case handled by UK Anti-Doping, handed down under the rules by the UCI. The Panel found Jonathan Tiernan-Locke to be in breach of the UCI Anti-Doping Rules and consequently he has been handed a two-year ban preventing him from competing or training in sport.
“The Athlete Biological Passport is a vital tool in the prevention and detection of doping and greatly enhances the integrated approach to anti-doping under which we all operate.”
UCI President Brian Cookson added:
“I would like to thank UK Anti-Doping for their work in handling this case and providing the rider with a fair and independent hearing. This case demonstrates how the UCI is working with partners on a global level to combat doping and protect our sport.”
