Aitor González (Euskaltel-Euskadi) (Image credit: Daniel Simms)
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has upheld the appeal filed by the International Cycling Union (UCI) in the case of Aitor González. The winner of the 2002 Vuelta España tested positive twice in 2005, first during an out of competition test in August, and again during the Vuelta España for a "methyltestosterone metabolite". González claimed that the positive test was the result of a contaminated dietary supplement he purchased at a fitness center. The product, called 'Animal Pak', had been prescribed by a doctor.
In May of this year, the Spanish Cycling Federation ended their proceedings against González, which resulted in a fine for 'serious fault' for failing to declare the supplement before antidoping control. The UCI filed an appeal in June to request a suspension of two years for the Spaniard.
The CAS arbitrators ruled that González did not act "without fault or negligence in using a doubtful food supplement". The ruling placed responsibility on the rider, saying "The athlete could not ignore the risks related to such an ingestion taking into account the repeated warnings given in this regard by the sports authorities."
