Vuelta a España director Javier Guillén, referring to Nairo Quintana's positive tramadol test issue, said that he is free to start the race on Friday and that it is up to the rider and his Arkea Samsic team to decide how to tackle this predicament.

The UCI announced Wednesday that Quintana had been disqualified from the Tour de France and stripped of his sixth place finish after he tested positive for tramadol twice during the race.

The opioid painkiller is banned under UCI rules introduced in 2019, but is not on the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned list, and a positive test is not technically considered an anti-doping rule violation and will not result in suspension for a first offense.

Quintana, the 2016 Vuelta winner, is on the start list for the 2022 event, but Wednesday's news casts doubt on his participation, with rumors circulating that he will not take part.

"Quintana can start the race according to the rules," Gijen told Spanish news agency EFE late Wednesday afternoon. But we will respect the decision the team made when they spoke to the riders."

"The riders and the team will decide what to do."

After three hours of silence, Arkea Samsic issued a statement on the matter on Wednesday afternoon, which was effectively equivalent to "no comment."

"Team Arkea Samsic notes the notification received by Nairo Quintana from the UCI that tramadol was detected in two dried blood samples taken during the last Tour de France.

"The UCI Medical Regulations provide that from March 1, 2019, the use of tramadol in competition for medical reasons is prohibited. Furthermore, this violation of the UCI Medical Regulations will not lead to a suspension of the athlete.

"The Arkea Samsic team will not comment further."

Guillen recognized that the news was "not good" for the Vuelta a España, especially given Quintana's stature as a racer.

"But it's a test, it's the rules. He's out of the Tour, but he can compete in the Vuelta."

According to Cycling News, Quintana underwent a pre-race COVID check Wednesday afternoon at race headquarters with the rest of his teammates. However, it has not yet been confirmed whether he will compete in the race.

The Vuelta will be followed by a team time trial on Friday evening in Utrecht, the Netherlands.