The UCI announced that Nairo Quintana has been disqualified from the 2022 Tour de France after testing positive for tramadol twice during the race.

The Colombian finished sixth in the race but returned samples containing "the presence of tramadol and its two main metabolites" on stage 7 La Planche des Belle Filles and stage 11 Col de Granon.

Although tramadol is banned from in-competition use after March 2019, a positive test for tramadol does not constitute an anti-doping rule violation. Therefore, Quintana is free to continue competing and is not subject to a racing ban.

"The International Cycling Union (UCI) has sanctioned Colombian rider Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas for violating the ban on the use of tramadol in competition as stipulated in the UCI Medical Rules for the purpose of protecting rider safety and health in light of the adverse effects of this substance. The company is pleased to announce that.

"Analysis of two dried blood samples provided by the rider on July 8 and 13 during the 2022 Tour de France revealed the presence of tramadol and its two main metabolites.

"In accordance with UCI medical regulations, the rider will be disqualified from the 2022 Tour de France. This decision may be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within the next 10 days.

"Violation of the ban on the use of tramadol in competition is an offence under the UCI Medical Regulations. It is not an anti-doping rule violation. As this is the first violation, Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas is not declared ineligible and may therefore participate in the competition."

"The UCI Medical Regulations do not provide for the use of tramadol in competition.

Quintana's sixth place finish in the Tour was the best result in the history of his Alcare Samsic team, giving the 32-year-old his best GC finish since the 2016 event. He finished 15th in La Planche des Belle Filles and 2nd in the Col de Granon.

The substance, an opiate painkiller, became a hot topic in the mid-2010s, and the Movement for Reliable Cycling (MPCC) called for a ban on the drug until 2013, following reports of its widespread use in the peloton.

"In addition to the risk of dependence and addiction, commonly reported side effects of tramadol are dizziness, drowsiness, and decreased alertness, which are incompatible with competitive cycling and endanger other competitors," according to the UCI medical rule book.

The UCI confirmed that 120 dried blood samples were taken during the Tour as part of the tramadol testing program. Quintana will be disqualified and fined for the first offense, but banned for five months for the second offense and nine months for the third.

The Arkea Samsic team initially did not comment on the matter, but later issued a statement that effectively amounted to "no comment."

"Team Arkea Samsic took note of the notice from the UCI received by Nairo Quintana 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 the suspension of an athlete.

"The Arkea Samsic team refrains from further comment."