Horrillo has anti-doping 'administrative error'

Rabobank's Pedro Horrillo found himself in a touch of trouble during an anti-doping control after the ‘Brabantse Pijl’. Horrillo, who had a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for asthma medication, had apparently switched to a new medication not covered by his TUE. Horrillo had an exemption for two drugs: Pulmicort (active ingredient: Budesonide) and Serevent (active ingredient: Salmeterol).

However, earlier in the year, his physician had advised him to change to a new aerosol, Symbicort. This medication has the same effect as two aerosols together, and his doctor saw no need to apply for a new TUE with the International Cycling Federation UCI.

Symbicort isn't simply a combination of the two drugs Horrillo had been taking, and contains an additional ingredient, Formeterol, which although in the same family as the other active ingredients, is listed separately on the antidoping list. This means that he was technically required to file a new TUE. Additionally, he failed to notify his team of the change in medication.

Because of the nature of the omission, Horrillo will have to make a statement in front of the Disciplinary Committee of the Spanish Cycling Federation, but is unlikely to face any sanctions over the error. The Rabobank Cycling Team has decided not to suspend Horrillo over the incident.