United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has banned 43 year-old sprinter Frank “The Cuba Missile” Trevieso for six months after he returned a positive anti-doping test result for Ephedrine – a banned stimulant.

According to USADA, Treiveso tested positive “at a concentration greater than the threshold of 10 micrograms per milliliter as the result of a urine sample collected [in-competition] at the Bommarito Audi Gateway Cup on September 3, 2023” – where he finished on the podium in third place.

A USADA investigation determined that Travieso obtained over-the-counter medication containing Ephedrine at the direction of a physician, but he lacked a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) and did not qualify for a retro-active TUE.

Ephedrine is a common ingredient found in many seemingly benign products including, cold medications, health supplements and weight loss products. Researchers have observed that Ephedrine, when combined with caffeine, can significantly increase stamina for endurance athletes like cyclists.

No stranger to anti-doping procedures and rules, Travieso has raced at the elite level for decades, including for Jamis, Smartstop-Mountain Khakis and most recently the Miami Knights – part of the fledgling USA National Cycling League. USADA historical testing data lists him as submitting three anti-doping samples over the last 10 years.

Travieso’s six-month period of ineligibility started on 21 September 2023 and he has been disqualified from all competitive results since 3 September, the date his positive sample was collected.

On 12 September 2023, along with nine teammates, Travieso was released from the Miami Nights and is not listed on their 2024 roster.

Photo Credit: Miami Nights

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