Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 5) — Filipina mountain bike rider Ariana Evangelista was provisionally suspended in the 19th Asian Games after her drug test yielded positive results, the International Testing Agency (ITA) announced Wednesday.
Evangelista, 27, recently competed in the women’s cross-country Olympic mountain bike tournament where she finished 13th.
According to ITA’s report, the Filipina athlete tested positive for a non-specified prohibited substance erythropoietin, which stimulates the production of red blood cells and enhances performances.
Evangelista’s blood and urine samples were collected at the Asian Games during an out-of-competition anti-doping control on Sept. 24 in Hangzhou, China.
ITA said the mountain biker has the right to request analysis of the B-sample.
\”The matter will thereafter be referred to the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport for adjudication under the OCA Anti-Doping Rules,\” it added.
In a statement on Thursday, the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines, Inc. (PhilCycling) lamented the suspension of Evangelista, saying she is one of the \”finest riders in MTB (mountain bike).\”
\”PhilCycling will always be in support of its athletes and on the same level promote with vigor fair play in our sport at all times while condemning the use of illegal substances or doping,\” PhilCycling said.
It added that the general public must refrain from making their own judgment until the final result has been rendered.
