The Court of Arbitration in Sport on Monday rejected German cyclist Stefan Schumacher’s appeal against a two-year ban for a positive doping control at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Schumacher was among the six athletes that tested positive for the banned-blood booster erythropoietin (EPO) CERA in Beijing. Doping controls taken at the games were tested retroactively when a new test to detect the drug was developed.
“The Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed the appeal filed by German cyclist Stefan Schumacher against the decision of the International Cycling Union to recognise the two-year suspension imposed by the French Anti-Doping Agency and to extend it worldwide,” the court said in a statement.
It wasn’t all bad news for the German, as the court ruled to move his suspension date from January 22, 2009, which is the date fixed by the International Cycling Union, to August 28, 2008, the date from which Schumacher was effectively unable to compete since he could not obtain a racing license.
Schumacher was given a two-year ban by the UCI in February of 2009 after two positive tests for CERA at the 2008 Tour de France, where he won two time trial stages and wore the race’s coveted leader’s jersey.
The retroactive tests are part of a positive trend in cycling where race organizers along with the UCI have been working to eradicate doping from the sport. In many cases a two-year doping ban is also followed-up by exclusion in the sport’s biggest events, a further deterrent for would be cheats.
Schumacher continues to maintain his innocence, telling the AFP Monday that he would ultimately have to accept the decision.
“I’m angry. You always have to prepare for the worst but I find this hard to believe,” he said. “I’m a fighter, but I will just have to accept this decision.”