Former Giro d’Italia rider Stefano Colagè (TEAM BIKE EMOTION) has been banned for six months after testing positive for the steroid Triamcinolone Acetonide Metabolita at the Italian National Amateur Cycling Championships in June.

The 59 year-old Colagè finished second overall (yes, OVERALL) in the championship race after being outsprinted by an ex-pro half as old as Colagè.  In addition to taking home a silver medal, he also won the Italian tri-colour national champion jersey in the 55-59 year-old category. 

Due to his positive doping test and subsequent ban from 13 June 2021 until 12 December 2021, both results from the championship race have been nullified and he must return the national champion jersey.

Colagè is no stranger to World Anti Doping Agency rules and testing after participating in numerous grand tours – 8 Giro d’Italia, 4 Tours de France and 1 Vuelta Espana, as well as the 1984 Olympics. 

Since retiring from the pro peloton in 2000, Colagè has participated in amateur gran fondo races at the highest level in his age category, including finishing third at the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in 2017 and winning UCI Franja Maratona in 2018.

Triamcinolone Acetonide Metabolita is a synthetic corticosteroid typically prescribed for the treatment of skin and joint conditions, but has been used by competitive cyclists to loose weight without suffering a significant loss in power.  Top Italian gran fondo riders Enrico Zen and Baldassare Barbera were also banned for using the steroid recently. 

PHOTOS: grossetosport.com

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