News
Road

Frei given lifetime ban from Swiss national teams

published 7 July 2010

Swiss cycling federation says no Worlds or Olympics if he returns to racing

Comments

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Thomas Frei (BMC Racing) (Image credit: BMC Racing Team)

Thomas Frei will never ride for a Swiss national team again. The national federation, Swiss Cycling, made that decision after the former BMC rider was suspended for two years after testing positive for EPO.

Frei fires A sample positive

Frei confesses to EPO usage and is released by BMC

Frei explains the motivation behind his doping

Frei given two-year ban for EPO use

“Because of this, Thomas Frei is excluded from the Swiss Cycling national team for his entire life. If Frei returns to professional cycling, he would not be nominated by Swiss Cycling for any international competitions like World championships and Olympic games,” the federation said in a statement issued Tuesday.

The Federation “represents a clear anti-doping stance and fights for doping-free cycling,” it said. “In relation to doping violations, the Swiss cycling federation follows a strict line without any tolerance.”

Frei tested positive for EPO at an out-of-competition test in March, and was suspended for two years last month. The former BMC rider confessed to having given himself a micro-dose of EPO the evening before the test and revealed that he had been doping since the summer of 2008.