Germany's Michel Hessmann has settled his doping case after appealing a four-month ban handed down by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Hessman was suspended from his Jumbo Visma last August 16 after testing positive for the banned diuretic chlorthalidone in an out-of-competition test on June 14, 2023.

He was banned for four years after a B-sample analysis confirmed his positive test, but was given a more lenient punishment after Germany's NADA accepted his claim that the test may have been laced with an over-the-counter painkiller.

According to Visma-Lease a Bike, the 23-year-old settled with WADA for a seven-month suspension and will be allowed to return to the peloton on March 14, 2025.

Hessman had signed a contract with Visma a Bike through the end of 2024, but the team announced that he would not return.

“Michel Hessmann will no longer be a rider for Team Wisma-Ries a Bike. The German rider has reached a settlement with WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency. He will be able to race again starting March 14, 2025. [...] [...]