Swiss Cycling suspends mountain biker

By Susan Westemeyer

The Swiss Olympic Committee has suspended mountain biker Daniel Paradis for two years for avoiding an out-of-competition doping test. The incident occurred on August 8, and the suspension is considered to have started on August 11, 2006.

Avoiding a doping control is considered to be the equivalent of a positive doping test. Paradis issued a statement in which he admitted that he had refused to take the test, saying "I find it inacceptable to be disturbed in my private sphere evenings after 8 o'clock."

Paradis won the Grand-Raid Race from Verbier to Grimentz twice. He was fired by his team in August because of suspected EPO use.