Spanish cycling is off to a tough start in 2023 after it was announced that amateur national champion Inigo González has tested positive for EPO and tramadol.

González, 23, tested positive last July, one week after finishing third in the Loinaz Prueva de Beasain, an amateur and U-23 race held in the Basque Country, and winning the amateur title at the national championships in Mallorca.

The Basque rider could face a four-year ban for EPO use. Tramadol is not classified as a performance enhancing drug, but its use during races is banned by the UCI starting March 2019 and riders will be disqualified; WADA has announced that tramadol will be a banned drug starting in 2024.

González won the Spanish amateur title in the senior national road race, finishing 13th best in his category. Last year, he also competed in the professional Volta a Portugal race as a stagiaire for the Angolan-registered Continental team BAI-Sicasal-Petro de Luanda, where his best stage finish was 18th.

Gonzalez's team for the remainder of the 2022 season, Spain's CC Padrones Cortizo, released a statement saying that they had contacted the rider who tested positive.

"He takes full responsibility as an individual and absolves the club," the statement said.

"Furthermore, given that this rider had no plans to play for our team next season (2023), the only action we can take now is to condemn and refute any unacceptable behavior.

"We want to make it clear that we completely reject the use of banned substances or any conduct and support full equality in terms of playing conditions, sporting ethics, objectives and player health." "We fully support Spain's anti-doping legislation and will provide the relevant authorities with any information they deem necessary."