Twitter reacts to amateur doping scandals
Andrew Hastings was banned for four years for taking steroids while Gabriel Evans has admitted using EPO as a junior racer
Amateur cycling in the United Kingdom has been rocked by two doping scandals in a matter of hours, with a Master's champion receiving a ban and a junior champion making an admission.
Andy Hastings, winner of the British Masters Championships (age 35-39) in 2015, was banned for using two anabolic steroids, claiming the banned substances had come from a borrowed, used needle with which he injected Vitamin B12.
Gabriel Evans, 18, then took to a time trialling forum to admit that he was caught with EPO and later rode, and won, the British Junior 10mi Championships, citing curiosity at the drug having watched BBC's Panorama programme on the subject.
The Reaction
Gabriel Evans
The reactions to Evans's confession took one of two stances: 1) the youngster was let down by his support network and his cycling mentors; or 2) the 18-year-old should banned for life for his decision to dope.
Andrew Hastings
There appears to be slightly less pity for Andrew Hastings, and even less support for his claim of using a borrowed, used needle from a man he met at "Monster Gym".
And finally...
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
‘There's no point to race for 50th place’: Peter Sagan explains why he’s a cycling esports ambassador but won’t compete
As a MyWhoosh ambassador, Sagan admires the sport’s evolution, but does he have the watts to compete with today’s virtual cycling stars?
By Christopher Schwenker Published
-
Rapha's loss, your gain: prices slashed sitewide amid profitability concerns
The British clothing brand unveils an almost unheard-of 25% discount across its entire product range
By Hannah Bussey Published
-
French cyclist faces suspended prison sentence and €5,000 fine in doping trial
Marion Sicot, who admitted to taking EPO in 2019, is currently on trial in France
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Steroids found in pro cyclist’s anti-doping test sample
Antwan Tolhoek has been provisionally suspended by the UCI while proceedings are ongoing
By Tom Davidson Last updated
-
Jonas Vingegaard reveals he missed an anti-doping test
'It's not great to have a missed test hanging over you,' says Tour de France champion
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Jumbo-Visma rider Michel Hessmann suspended after positive anti-doping test
The 22-year-old's out-of-competition sample detected the presence of diuretics
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Former British Cycling doctor Richard Freeman given four-year doping ban
Freeman chose not to defend himself before the anti-doping panel
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'We are not cheaters' says Belgian rider Shari Bossuyt after anti-doping positive
The Canyon-SRAM rider tested positive for Letrozole in an anti-doping control in March
By Tom Davidson Published
-
"Failing that drug test was the best thing that had ever happened to me"
Abuse victim and disgraced cycling champion Geneviève Jeanson finds solace in return to bike racing
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
29 cases of alleged doping recorded in cycling in 2022, but only one at WorldTour
Most came from semi-professional ranks, MPCC finds
By Tom Davidson Published