Domingos Gonçalves handed four-year ban for Biological Passport abnormalities

ALTO DA FIA PORTUGAL FEBRUARY 21 Andre Maciel Domingos Goncalves of Portugal and Team Caja RuralSeguros Rga during the 45th Volta ao Algarve Stage 2 a 1874 km stage from Almodvar to Alto Da Fia 900m VA VAlgarve2019 on February 21 2019 in Alto Da Fia Portugal Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images
Domingos Gonçalves at the 2019 Volta ao Algarve (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Portuguese rider Domingos Gonçalves has been handed a four-year suspension by the UCI for 'use of prohibited substance', based on abnormalities detected in his Biological Passport in 2016 and 2018.

The 31-year-old has been provisionally suspended from the sport since December 2019, but a recent update to the UCI's sanctions list (opens in new tab) showed that Gonçalves has been banned. The period of ineligibility runs from December 2019, meaning he would be able to return to the sport in December 2023.

After his provisional suspension in 2019, his team, Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, faced a ban from racing after ex-rider Jaime Roson was handed a four-year ban for Biological Passport abnormalities dating to January 2017. However, the team avoided a possible 15 to 45-day ban after presenting an argument to the UCI.

Gonçalves spent two years of his career – 2016 and 2019 at the second-tier Spanish team, with whom he rode the Vuelta a España as well as several other WorldTour races, including Tirreno-Adriatico and Itzulia.

Much of his eight-year pro career has seen him race at Continental level, spending much of his time at Portuguese team Onda/Radio Popular-Boavista. He has twice been a national time trial champion, also winning the Portuguese road title and a stage of the Volta a Portugal in 2018.

Gonçalves' results from July 2018 to the end of 2019 will be wiped as a result of his ban, meaning he'll lose his Volta a Portugal stage win and ninth place overall.

His twin brother, José, came up through the Continental ranks with him, and has enjoyed a more successful, controversy-free career. He raced for Caja Rural-Seguros RGA in 2015 and 2016 before spending three years at WorldTour level with Katusha.

His palmarès includes the Ster ZLM Tour, the Tour of Turkey, two stages of the Volta a Portugal and two national time trial titles. He now rides for French ProTeam Delko.

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Daniel Ostanek
Production editor

Daniel Ostanek is production editor at Cyclingnews, having joined in 2017 as a freelance contributor and later being hired as staff writer. Prior to joining the team, he had written for most major publications in the cycling world, including CyclingWeekly, Rouleur, and CyclingTips.

 

Daniel has reported from the world's top races, including the Tour de France and the spring Classics, and has interviewed many of the sport's biggest stars, including Wout van Aert, Remco Evenepoel, Demi Vollering, and Anna van der Breggen.

 

As well as original reporting, news and feature writing, and production work, Daniel also runs The Leadout newsletter and oversees How to Watch guides throughout the season. His favourite races are Strade Bianche and the Volta a Portugal, and he rides a Colnago C40.