UAE Team Colombia shut operations after doping positive
Esteban Toro's result was from out-of-competition sample before he joined the team
Colombian amateur squad UAE Team Colombia have ceased operations with immediate effect following the adverse analytical finding of one of their riders, Esteban Toro.
The 20-year-old returned a positive result in an out-of-competition test before the start of the 2021 season and before he joined the team, though the substance found has yet to be announced.
"UAE Team Colombia regrets to inform the public and the media that, after receiving the notification of the adverse analytical result of the rider Esteban Toro from the national and international authorities, the team has taken the decision to suspend the employment of the athlete and put an end to all sporting activity of the team in Colombia," read a statement issued by the team on social media.
Despite the similar name, UAE Team Colombia is not affiliated with the WorldTour squad UAE Team Emirates in any way.
"The events of which the rider is accused took place out of competition and before the start of the 2021 calendar, when he was not yet under the tutelage of the team," read the UAE Team Colombia statement.
"These same facts are still under investigation and both the team and the rider are awaiting the B-sample - to which the athlete is entitled - and the internal investigations to confirm or rule out his adverse analysis.
"We trust that the rider will be able to clarify his situation, face due process and exercise his right to defence within the terms established by the UCI for cases such as his.
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"Due to the seriousness of these facts, UAE Team Colombia has decided to put an end to its sporting and administrative activity in Colombia, under its philosophy of ZERO TOLERANCE to doping under the standards of the Colombian Cycling Federation and the Colombian Ministry of Sports."
The team were founded with the aim of promoting young Colombian riders and had ambitions to reach ProTeam level. U23 Colombian road champion Daniel Arroyave was the first to make the step up from the team to the WorldTour this year as he moved to EF Education-Nippo.
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Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, having joined in 2017 as a freelance contributor and later being hired full-time. Prior to joining the team, they had written for numerous major publications in the cycling world, including CyclingWeekly and Rouleur.
Dani has reported from the world's top races, including the Tour de France, World Championships, and the spring Classics. They have interviewed many of the sport's biggest stars, including Mathieu van der Poel, Remco Evenepoel, Demi Vollering, and Anna van der Breggen.
As well as original reporting, news and feature writing, and production work, Dani also oversees How to Watch guides and works on The Leadout newsletter throughout the season. Their favourite races are Strade Bianche and Paris-Roubaix and their favourite published article is from the 2024 edition of the latter: 'Unless I'm in an ambulance, I'm finishing this race' – Cyrus Monk, the last man home at Paris-Roubaix