A French recreational cyclist has been banned for two years after testing positive for a prohibited corticosteroid, the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) has announced.
The AFLD’s sanctions commission ruled on Tuesday 15 September 2026 that the recreational cyclist had committed an anti-doping rule violation after triamcinolone acetonide was detected. The glucocorticoid is included on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Prohibited List. No further details about the test or the violation were released. The rider was notified on Wednesday 23 September 2026. In accordance with AFLD policy for recreational athletes, the rider has not been named.
The ban runs from 15 September 2026 to 14 September 2028, inclusive. During this period, the rider cannot compete, coach or hold any administrative or volunteer role in organisations bound by the World Anti-Doping Code.
The commission also asked the French Cycling Federation and the relevant race organisers to annul all results achieved from Friday 08 August 2025 forward, including any medals, points, prizes and winnings.
Triamcinolone acetonide is a corticosteroid typically used medically to treat inflammation, allergies and joint or tendon problems. It is often administered by injection. Glucocorticoids are prohibited in competition when administered orally, intravenously, intramuscularly or rectally. Athletes with a legitimate medical need can apply for a therapeutic use exemption (TUE).
In sport, glucocorticoids have been associated with pain relief, reduced inflammation, faster recovery and a reduced perception of fatigue. They have also been linked to weight loss, potentially offering an advantage to cyclists on climbs, although the extent of any performance benefit remains debated.
The drug has previously attracted attention in professional cycling. In 2016, it emerged that Bradley Wiggins, who has asthma, had received three TUEs for triamcinolone covering the 2011 Tour de France, his victory at the 2012 Tour de France, and the 2013 Giro d’Italia.
A 2018 UK parliamentary report concluded that Wiggins’s team, Team Sky, had crossed an “ethical line” by using performance-enhancing drugs to help him lose weight and prepare for grand tours. Wiggins denied crossing the ethical line. No anti-doping rule violation was established in connection with the TUEs, which had been granted under the rules in force at the time.
© 2026 Copyright Gran Fondo Daily News – All Rights Reserved