The UCI has provisionally suspended Oier Lazkano due to suspicious fluctuations in his biological passport. The irregularities violate the international cycling federation’s anti-doping regulations. The UCI does not want to make further statements while the procedure is ongoing, but more details are emerging through the Spanish media.
In the press release from the International Cycling Union, we read that Lazkano is provisionally suspended due to suspicious fluctuations in his blood passport between 2022 and 2024. The abnormalities in the Spanish rider's Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) were deemed unexplained.
Ciclo21 now reports, however, that the four irregularities in his biological passport can be traced back to only one year. That would be 2024, his final year with the Spanish Movistar team. In his first two seasons riding for the telecom squad, no suspicious fluctuations in his blood passport were reportedly detected.
Last road season, the one-day specialist rode for Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe. Lazkano—who faces a possible four-year suspension—is no longer under contract with the German outfit. In a press statement, the WorldTeam announced that they are parting ways with the classics specialist.
"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 it clear that this case concerns seasons before he joined our team,” the squad emphasized.
Lazkano maintains he is innocent and wants to clear his name, as he stated earlier this month in an official statement. “I want to unequivocally make clear that I have never used doping or banned substances. I have always abided by the rules, just as the values that are important within cycling.”
“I am an honest athlete and an honest person,” the former Spanish champion asserts, further emphasizing that he will do everything in his power to prove his innocence: “I will defend my reputation and do everything necessary to demonstrate my innocence. I will also prove that I was never involved in any illegal behavior.”
