Miguel Ángel López, the Colombian cyclist known as ‘Supermán’, has received a four-year ban from the International Cycling Union (UCI) after being found guilty of doping with Menotropin, a performance-enhancing substance. The 30-year-old, who has won stages in the Tour de France and finished third in the 2018 Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España, was provisionally suspended in July 2023, with the official suspension period running until July 24, 2027..López, who had previously never tested positive, was implicated following evidence obtained from Spanish police and the Spanish National Anti-Doping Organisation. He was subsequently released by his team Astana but continued to compete for Team Medellín-EPM, where he won the Tour of Colombia and the Tour of San Juan. López has consistently denied the doping charges, asserting that the evidence against him was manipulated and biased, and has announced plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.The suspension has cast a shadow over Colombian cycling, which has seen its reputation tarnished by doping scandals in recent years. López’s case is particularly notable given his high-profile victories and the severity of the sanction. As the cycling world reacts to this development, López’s future in the sport hangs in the balance, pending the outcome of his appeal.
Key points
- Miguel Ángel López, known as ‘Supermán’, has been banned for four years by the UCI for doping.
- López was found guilty of using Menotropin, a banned performance-enhancing substance.
- He denies the charges and intends to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
