After more than a week ago the UCI decided to disqualify Nairo from the Tour de France and he would choose to voluntarily drop out of the Tour of Spainthe wave of rumors and possible consequences around the Colombian generate uncertainty both in the press and in the fans.
It is a simple case because it is not a doping situation, but complex because of its defense and the collateral effects that this blow will bring in his image following two years ago he was searched by the French police and where Arkea left him alone as on this occasion.
After Nairo’s sixth place in the Tour de France and other races where he too shone, Arkea added several UCI points that placed it near the top 10 teams of the year and even Quintana himself predicted it prior to La Vuelta. However, being disqualified from the Tour, lose several units that put them in danger.
Arkea is currently in box number 14 of the classification with 14776, but as explained by ‘Cyclingnews’ fall to 15th place if you take away the 455 units that Nairo obtained in the Tour de France. This leaves them more or less 1000 points from 19th place (first drop) and with little time to add to Quintana’s absence in La Vuelta and the low power of the squad in the classics.
Arkea is at a slight risk of losing the World Tour category that it already had and if it were to be saved, it would be committed for next year and will be forced to add once more with strategies such as those applied in 2022.
Although a few days ago it was reported that Nairo was renewing until 2025, the contract would not have been signed and Arkea would be considering not going through with it if his defense It is not successful despite the fact that from the broker’s environment they deny it for now.
The Colombian runner will defend himself before the CAS understanding that it is a substance that is not considered doping by the world anti-doping agency (it is prohibited by UCI due to health issues), but he will do it only with his lawyers and without any help from Arkea who claimed not to know the origin of tramadol.
Nairo defends himself legally with the Colombian lawyer Andrs Charria (who recovered the Olympic medal from Mara Luisa Calle) and fortunately has the financial resources to do so and another team of Italian professionals who from the scientific point of view also prepare the best arguments. Apparently it would be a short documentation process and where a hearing would not be necessary.
The Colombian cyclist finished his 4-year sentence for the consumption of boldenone where he claimed it was accidental. He might not once morest the UCI and recently explained in ‘Radio Snail’ that difficult days are coming for Nairo because it is never easy before this entity and all the process that this entails.
“It is a very hard process, if the truth is I had had the mentality that I have now, I would not have worn myself out physically or mentally facing a defense before the UCI. Plus having spent the money I spent. That was part of the process, learning and living what I had to live,”
“It’s a very tough situation, I know Nairo is not sanctioned, just obviously nobody likes to be lowered from sixth place, like the one who was removed from sixth placebut he will still have to face a very difficult defense”.
“It is difficult to talk to the ICU, I had answers that came in eight days as well as answers that came in eight months. It is a very distressing process and even more so for Nairo with that substance that not even he himself can explain how it might appear in his body. I think difficult days are coming for him, but I know he is a great runner and a great warrior. that he can come out of this victorious and in the best way”.
