Jarlinson Pantano suspended after failing drugs test

It was discovered the Colombian rider had EPO in the test carried out by governing body the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) on February 28.

"It is with deep disappointment that we have just learned that our rider, Jarlinson Pantano, has been notified of an adverse analytical finding in a sample collected during an out of competition control carried out by the Cycling Antidoping Foundation," said Trek-Segafredo in a statement.

"In accordance with our zero-tolerance policy, he has been suspended immediately.

"We hold our riders and staff to the highest ethical standards and will act and communicate accordingly as more details become available."

The UCI has confirmed that 30-year-old Pantano has been provisionally suspended.

Pantano dropped out of the Tour of Catalunya on the first stage on March 25.

"The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announces that the Colombian rider Jarlinson Pantano Gomez was notified of an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) of Erythropoietin in a sample collected during an out-of-competition control on 26 February 2019.

"The control was planned and carried out by the Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation (CADF), the independent body mandated by the UCI, in charge of defining and implementing the anti-doping strategy in cycling."

Pantano can now request that his B sample by analysed.

After turning professional with Colombia-Coldeportes in 2012, Pantano went on to ride for IAM Cycling in 2015 and 2016, before joining Trek in 2017.

He has picked up four wins during his career – a stage of the Tour de Suisse, a stage of the 2016 Tour de France, the Colombian national time trial championship and a stage of last year’s Volta a Catalunya.

"The rider has the right to request and attend the analysis of the B sample," said the UCI.

"In accordance with UCI Anti-Doping Rules, the rider has been provisionally suspended until the adjudication of the affair.

"At this stage of the procedure, the UCI will not comment any further on this matter."