While professional and amateur bike racing has been on hold since late February, anti-doping agencies around the world have continued their job of trying to catch cyclists using banned performance enhancing drugs.

The United States Anti Doping Agenecy (USADA) has announced that 43 year-old amateur cyclist Leynier Alonso (HGBS/Corratec Team), of Miami Gardens, Florida, tested positive for phentermine on 16 February after winning the Tour of South Florida.

Phentermine is classified as a stimulant by the World Anti Doping Agency and is prohibited in-competition.  It is as a medicine similar to amphetamine that is commonly prescribed for weight-loss.  Phentermine stimulates the central nervous system (nerves and brain), which increases heart rate and blood pressure while decreasing appetite.

On the same day USADA suspended Alonso from competition for four-years, he raced in the Somibike Championship Series, finishing 3rd in the masters age group.  According to the terms of his suspension he will be stripped of the result and must forfeit any medals, points and prizes.

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