Colombia's Pantano banned after failing drug test

Colombian rider Jarlinson Pantano has been suspended after failing a drug test during an out-of-competition doping control carried out by the Cycling Antidoping Foundation in February, his team Trek-Segafredo said on Monday. "It is with deep disappointment that we have just learned that our rider, Jarlinson Pantano, has been notified of an adverse analytical finding in a sample," the U.S.-licenced team said in a statement.

"In accordance with our zero tolerance policy, he has been suspended immediately. "We hold our riders and staff to the highest ethical standards and will act and communicate accordingly as more details become available."

Cycling Weekly reported the 30-year-old returned an adverse analytical finding for Erythropoietin (EPO) after he was tested on Feb 26. "In accordance with UCI Anti-Doping Rules, the rider has been provisionally suspended until the adjudication of the affair," the International Cycling Union (UCI) said in a statement.

"At this stage of the procedure, the UCI will not comment any further on this matter." Pantano can now request that his B sample by analysed.

After turning professional with Colombia-Coldeportes in 2012, Pantano went on to ride for IAM Cycling in 2015 and 2016, before joining Trek in 2017. He has picked up four wins during his career – a stage of the Tour de Suisse, a stage of the 2016 Tour de France, the Colombian national time trial championship and a stage of last year's Volta a Catalunya.