Email

Print

Elite cyclist Nissan Arana was crowned Belize’s National Road Champion at the end of June, but tonight he’s been stripped of that title.   Cycling’s governing body, the UCI in Switzerland has finished adjudicating Arana’s case and today posted his final status on their website.  

It confirms that he has tested positive for the banned substance, EPO - and it stipulates that he is to be suspended for four years.   This is the longest ban ever imposed on a Belizean cyclist.  

Arana tested positive after the Holy Saturday Cross Country Classic where he finished ninth. Now, he will also be stripped of that top ten finish.  Before that race, Arana had won the Belmopan Classic in March. 

The banned substance EPO is injected to give athletes more endurance.  Athletes from Lance Armstrong to Marion Jones, to, most recently, Jarrell “Big Babyâ€￾ Miller have tested positive for EPO and been suspended.

We note that this matter was adjudicated at UCI headquarters in Switzerland - taking it out of the hands of the regional body which was unable to proceed with disciplinary proceedings against the last cyclist who had a positive test for EPO, Brandon Cattouse.  

A late evening release from the Cycling Federation confirms that they are withdrawing his license for four years.