Mathias Flückiger tested positive for a doping test carried out on 5 June during a race valid for the Swiss championships in Leysin. The substance found is Zeranol, an anabolic.
Zeranol is approved for use in the United States as a growth factor for livestock, including beef cattle. In Canada it is only approved for use in beef cattle. Its use is not approved in the European Union (from Wikipedia).
His team sent us the following statement in which they suspended the athlete at least until a second test. Remember that this weekend Flückiger should have been racing the European XC in Munich, which heads toward highly anticipated world championships in Les Gets.
“Mathias Flückiger has been provisionally suspended since receiving information about a positive A-sample. Flückiger was tested positive for an anabolic substance on the occasion of the Swiss Championships in Leysin, on June 5, 2022.
In the case of doping, zero tolerance applies in Team Thömus maxon Swiss Mountain Bike Racing. Team Thömus maxon wants clean and fair sport. It condemns doping with all determination. Together with Swiss Olympic, Swiss Cycling and Swiss Sport Integrity and the other partners involved, we will take the necessary steps to clarify the situation and then assess it further.
A decision on further cooperation with Mathias Flückiger will be made once the B sample is available.”
