Reigning Tour of Utah champ fails doping test, suspended


Save Story

Show 1 more video

Leer en español

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

SALT LAKE CITY — Professional cyclist Tom Danielson has been removed from the Tour of Utah competition as a result of an "adverse" test by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

Danielson, 37, a member of the Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling team, tested positive for synthetic testosterone, according to a tweet from the cyclist. The USADA informed Danielson of the failed test Sunday but has yet to formally announce the positive test.

The Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling team released a statement Monday saying: "In accordance with Slipstream Sports' zero tolerance anti-doping policy, (Danielson) has been suspended from competition, effective immediately. He awaits the results of his B sample. Slipstream respects and will adhere to the process of the anti-doping authorities and will not comment further."

Danielson, however, took to Twitter to refute the doping claims, saying he has never taken a synthetic testosterone or any other substances banned by the USADA.

I would never ever take anything like this especially after everything I have gone through the last years. This makes absolutely no sense — tom danielson (@tomdanielson) August 3, 2015

> I feel incredibly hurt, frustrated, and angry by this. I don't understand how or why this happened and still can't even accept this is true > > — tom danielson (@tomdanielson) [August 3, 2015](https://twitter.com/tomdanielson/status/628080535512813568)

In 2012, Danielson, as well as two other cyclists, admitted to doping, following the USADA's report on Lance Armstrong. Danielson was banned from the sport for six months but later went on to win the Tour of Utah in 2013 and 2014.

Danielson will face a lifetime ban from the sport if his B sample comes back positive.

With the two-time defending champion out of the race, Colorado's Kiel Reijjnen of Team United Healthcare won the first stage of the Tour of Utah around the Cache Valley.

Reijnen won with a winning time of 5:09.02, followed by Team Cannondale-Garmin's Alex Howes (5:09.02), BMC Racing's Taylor Phinney (5:09.02) and Axeon Cycling's Gregory Daniel (5:09.02).

Stage 2 from Tremonton to Ogden starts at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday.

Related stories

Most recent Sports stories

Related topics

Sports
Josh Furlong

    ARE YOU GAME?

    From first downs to buzzer beaters, get KSL.com’s top sports stories delivered to your inbox weekly.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast