Neal Schubel banned for two years
Masters-level road cyclist Neal Schubel has been dealt a two-year ban by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for the purchase and use of EPO.
The USADA contacted the 45-year-old rider from the state of Michigan and presented him with evidence which had led them to believe he had committed doping infractions. Upon being presented with the unspecified evidence, Schubel admitted to the USADA that
he had purchased and used banned blood-booster Erythropoietin.
“Schubel is disqualified from all competitive results achieved on and subsequent to August 1, 2006,” read a statement by the USADA, “the date he first committed the anti-doping rule violation based on his prompt admission to USADA after being confronted
with evidence in USADA’s possession, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.”
The cyclist’s two-year ban from competition officially began on November 18 2010. The USADA specified that a further penalty may be forthcoming.
The evidence, the details of which have not been made public, has presumably come to light as part of the US Postal Service investigation. The USADA is collaborating with Jeff Novitzky of the Food and Drug Administration at Interpol headquarters in Lyon,
France in collecting doping evidence from the authorities in at least four other nations so far in an attempt to uncover an alleged widespread doping network with ties to Lance Armstrong, Johan Bruyneel and the former USPS cycling team.
Schubel’s ban comes almost immediately after Roel Paulissen’s ban by the Belgian Cycling Federation, indicating the seriousness with which doping is being treated. Paulissen, a 34-year-old off-road cyclist, has been banned for two years for the use of a
substance, which increases testosterone levels in males, though the levels recorded were extremely low.
"I've always held hope for a positive outcome," said Paulissen to Cyclingnews after receiving the ban. "Given the facts and arguments during the course of the procedure, my faith in a favorable decision had only increased. This is a great disappointment
to me.”
Tags: