Farnese Vini rider could be banned for life
German rider Patrik Sinkewitz is facing a probable life ban from the sport following a positive A sample test for Human Growth Hormone.
The German rider already incurred a ban after testing positive for testosterone in 2007, and later admitted to using EPO and blood transfusions.
His latest postive test arose from an in-competition test conducted by Antidoping Switzerland at the GP di Lugano on February 27. The test was authorised by the UCI, and the sample was analysed at the WADA accredited laboratory in Lausanne.
Sinkewitz’ positive test for hGH is the first such result in cycling, with the substance being notoriously hard to detect. Positives have arisen in other sports, and today’s news marks a step forward for the fight against doping in the peloton.
The UCI advised Sinkewitz earlier that he has been suspended and he will remain unable to race until the German Cycling Federation can determine if he has indeed broken the rules. That will depend on the analysis of his B sample, which the rider can request and attend.
The former Deutschland Tour winner returned to cycling in 2009 with the PSK Whirlpool-Author team. His ban had been reduced from two years to one after he testified about others involved in doping, including former team-mates at T-Mobile, as well as team doctors and staff.
That season he won a stage of the Tour of Portugal, as well as taking a stage plus the overall in the Sachsen Tour.
He was then signed up to ISD Neri by another former team-mate, Luca Scinto, who was acting as manager of the Italian squad. Scinto said that he should be given an opportunity. “Look at all the great riders that have been caught for doping, they returned one day,” said Scinto at the time, according to Reuters.
“Look at (Ivan) Basso, (Alexandre) Vinokourov. Sinkewitz is one of them and he deserves a second chance.”
Sinkewitz won the Giro di Romagna with the team. It was renamed Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli team this season and he continued as a rider there. His best result was ninth on a stage of the Tour of Oman; the 30 year old was also 30th in both the GP di Lugano and the GP Regio Insubrica, and finished 48th overall in Tirreno-Adriatico.
Depending on the outcome of the B sample and hearing, that could well be the last race of his career.