Former professional cyclist and 2021 Marmotte Granfondo Alpes winner Raphaël Addy has been suspended for two years from the sport of cycling in his home country of Switzerland or anywhere else around the world.

The Swiss Olympic committee announced the sanction when Addy “refused to submit to doping control,” after winning the world famous amateur race that finished atop Alpe d’Huez in the French Alps on 4 September. In addition, Addy must also pay a fine of 2700 Swiss francs.

The 32 year-old ex-pro cyclist claimed he was not aware of the required doping control carried out at the finish of the 177 kilometer long race, where he finished solo with a six minute lead on the next rider. Addy then refused to submit the required biological samples after he was duly informed by the doping officer of the risks and consequences of refusal.

Afterwards, Addy amended his claim, adding that stomach aches prevented him from submitting the required samples:

“I was so badly twisted-up on arrival, that I immediately went back down to Bourg d’Oisan. I threw up three times when I got on the shuttle bus. When [teammate] Arnaud Tissières called me to tell me that I had to go back up, I didn’t have the strength.”

Since Addy is now considered an amateur ”hobby” cyclist (his pro career ended in 2013), the standard four year ban was reduced to two years and ends 29 September 2023.

Photos: photobreton

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