It is certainly a topic of discussion in Spain: the doping case surrounding Oier Lazkano. The Basque rider was provisionally suspended earlier this week by the UCI due to suspicious fluctuations in his blood passport from 2022 to 2024. El País now claims to have more information about the Lazkano case.
According to the well-known Spanish newspaper, Lazkano was visited in late April – following his (provisionally final) appearance at Paris-Roubaix – by agents from the International Testing Agency (ITA). "This agency informed Lazkano of an investigation after four abnormal blood values were registered in his biological passport over the past three years," states El País.
As part of the investigation, Lazkano had to hand over his phone, laptop, and personal information so that possible contacts in the doping world could be examined. In October, a disciplinary case was opened and the former Spanish champion was provisionally suspended by the UCI. Three experts concluded that the abnormal values in his passport were likely due to EPO use.
Lazkano – who risks a four-year suspension – is no longer under contract with Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe. In a press statement, the German WorldTeam announced that the paths of the team and the 25-year-old classics specialist will part.
"We can confirm that Lazkano is no longer part of our team. Our decision follows the UCI’s provisional suspension of him. We want to make clear that this case concerns the 2022, 2023, and 2024 seasons, before he joined our team," the team stated clearly.
Oier Lazkano| Year | Team |
|---|---|
| 2025 | |
| 2024 | |
| 2023 | |
| 2022 | |
| 2021 |
