Published June 12, 2016 09:59AM
Wanty pulls two out of Dauphiné over cortisol levels
Enrico Gasparotto and Bjorn Thurau rested by Wanty – Groupe Gobert due to low cortisol levels
Enrico Gasparotto did not start the final stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné due to low cortisol levels. Photo: Tim De Waele | <a href="http://www.tdwsport.com" target="_blank">TDWsport.com</a> (file)
LE PONT-DE-CLAIX, France (AFP) — Wanty – Groupe Gobert pulled Enrico Gasparotto and Bjorn Thurau out of the Critérium du Dauphiné on Sunday due to anomalies in their biological passports.
Although neither has failed a drug test, they recorded low levels of cortisol in procedures carried out by the Movement for Credible Cycling (MPCC).
Wanty are members of the MPCC and according to the group’s rules, if riders record suspect readings in their biological passports, they must be rested until the levels return to normal.
Low levels of cortisol can indicate the use of a corticoid medication, but does not necessarily mean a doping offense has taken place.
Gasparotto – who won the prestigious Amstel Gold Race in April – and Thurau must now stay away from racing for at least a week, and can only return once their cortisol levels have normalized.
While the pair was free to continue racing under UCI rules, the MPCC operates under stricter anti-doping guidelines.