A second elite amateur cyclist competing in Asian Games Hangzhou 2023 has been accused of violating anti-doping rules. The International Testing Agency (ITA) reported Ariana Thea Patrice Dormitorio (aka Evangelista Dormitorio) tested positive for Erythropoietin (EPO).

“The athlete has been informed of the case and has been provisionally suspended with immediate effect,” said the ITA, which manages doping control at the games taking place in China.

Evangelista returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) from blood and urine samples collected in an out-of-competition test on 24 September – the day before she finished over 30 minutes and one lap behind 2023 Asian Games MTB champion Hongfeng Li of China.

After being notified by ITA, Evangelista requested her B-Sample be tested and said via Facebook, “There were many factors that could have [led] to the initial failing of the test and I have emailed those factors to the ITA already.”

Evangelista, 27, who captured a silver medal at the Southeast Asian Games in May, is a 5x Filipino MTB National Champion. She started cycling at age 10, won her first national title as as teenager and recently set a goal to represent the Philippines at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Evangelista may challenge the ITA test result and accusation of EPO doping at a to-be-scheduled Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing.

Photo Credit: ITA

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