Former professional cyclist Enrico Zen (TEAM MOBILZEN TREK GIST) tested positive for the substances Triamcinolone acetonide and its metabolite Catina following a test ordered at the end of Gran Fondo Sportful Dolomiti race on June 16, 2019. As a result, NADA Italia has suspended him.
Zen, who also won the same event in 2017 and 2018, finished in 6:52:11.
Ivan Piol, president of the Sportful Dolomiti organizing committee commented to Italian newspaper L’ Amico del Popolo (translated):
“What is certain is that, should he be disqualified, he will have to deal with our regulation which provides, in the paragraph dedicated to the ethical requirement, that in case of positivity the athlete and the jointly owned company must pay 50,000 euros as compensation of the serious damage caused to the image of the event. A sum that, again by regulation, will be donated to youth sports.”
Another Italian rider faces the same 50,000 euro penalty after testing positive at Granfondo Nove Colli in May.
Zen’s MOBILZEN TREK GIST team has yet to issue a statement, but posted on Facebook that Zen did not start the July 7 Maratona Dles Dolomite gran fondo race due to “some physical ailments.”
Zen is the second Italian rider within a week to be suspended for the substance Triamcinolone, which helps riders lose weight without losing power.
Zen has the right to appeal the test results and suspension at a NADA Italia hearing.
GRAN FONDO DAILY NEWS 