Cycling: Heras ban leaves career in ruins
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The career of Roberto Heras was in ruins yesterday after a B test confirmed a positive reading for the banned drug EPO.
Heras will now be stripped of his fourth, record-breaking title in the Tour of Spain, sacked from his team Liberty Seguros, and banned from racing for a further two years. At 31, a comeback is unlikely.
The Spaniard, who has insisted that he is innocent and that the test is not reliable, said he would continue to fight his case in court.
Delays in the analysis of the second B test - which confirms whether an initial positive reading for a banned substance is valid - had briefly raised hopes on Heras's part that he would be cleared.
Instead, the Spaniard has the dubious honour of being the first winner of a major Tour - one of cycling's showpiece events - to be declared positive for EPO.
The positive test of one of the country's best-known sportsmen will reinforce the Spanish government's resolve to introduce tough new anti-doping laws and put an end to what the sport minister, Jaime Lissavetzky, has described as "a reputation for excessive tolerance".
As for the Tour of Spain, already in serious difficulties due to falling audience shares and previous doping scandals, Heras's sporting demise is nothing short of disastrous.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments