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He was crowned Belize’s National Road Champion on Sunday, and he won the Belmopan Classic in March - but, tonight, one of Belize’s premier cyclists, Nissan Arana could lose all that; he’s tested positive for a performance enhancing drug. 

The UCI - which is cycling’s global governing body - today published his name on the list of riders who are serving a provisional suspension, quote, “as a consequence of a potential or asserted anti-doping rule violation.â€￾  The UCI site said he tested positive for EPO which is a banned substance that is injected to give athletes more endurance. It has been widely abused by banned athletes from Lance Armstrong to Marion Jones, to, most recently, Jarrell “Big Babyâ€￾ Miller.

And now the finger is on Orange Walk’s own Nissan Arana.  He was randomly tested in April after finishing 9th in the Holy Saturday Cross Country and that’s the test that came back positive for EPO.  

But, he can appeal and he now has 7 days to confirm if he wants UCI to test the B sample.  

The UCI website says that he cannot participate in any competition or activity until the adjudication of his case by the UCI Anti-Doping Commission.

Since it is only provisional at this time, It is unclear whether he will be stripped of his ninth place finish in the Cross Country - and his National Road Championship victory.  President Orson Butler has told us it is being handled by the UCI in Switzerland which is leading the process.