Stefan Schumacher, a German cyclist, has been meted a two-year ban because of his alleged use of EPO during the 2008 Tour de France. The man however disagrees that he used the drugs, which forced him to take legal action against whoever started the controversy.

The Associated Press revealed that Stefan Schumacher was banned last Friday after having been tested positive on the test for a new blood-boosting drug. This was supported by the International Cycling Union who said that the rider has been banned from competing in the sport until the 21st of January 2011.

UCI chief Pat McQuaid said that the rider received a fair hearing. The penalty was given after the UCI signed an agreement with the French anti-doping agency that they will conduct anti-doping control on the races which will be held in France this year. Furthermore, Pierre Bordry who is the head of France’s anti-doping authority confirmed that the ban was launched exactly for the start of the hearing about Schumacher’s case.

The 27-year-old Stefan Schumacher already obtained a two-year ban just last month from French races, according to the French anti-doping authority.

Last Friday, he finally broke his silence by giving a statement on his Website saying that he would appeal his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sports. He said that there is only one thing which is true in this whole issue, and that is the fact that he did not dope and he had nothing bad to hide. He even said he can be stripped off all of his victories just as long as the truth will be revealed. To note, he was able to win two time trials during last year’s tour.

Opposing Schumacher’s statement, the French officials confirmed that they found traces of blood-booster CERA which is currently the new drug of choice by some of Tour competitors. The traces were found in Schumacher’s blood during the re-tests of samples which was obtained before and during last year’s Tour.

In September, after the result was discovered, Schumacher was suspended right ahead by Team Gerolsteiner. To add insult to injury, his new team which is the Quick Step, then dropped him as well. Schumacher declared that the UCI had updated him through fax that the world body will have to agree to the French agency ban.

He complained because he believed that everything is not fair. He was given the sentence even without clearly examining the documents, even without putting up an effort of clearing up all the inconsistencies and even without having to go through a real hearing.

However, McQuaid said the UCI will soon provide a ruling during the next few days or perhaps weeks that will clear up all the controversies in the case of Spanish cyclist Manuel Beltran. This man who is a veteran of the sport was also banned for two years after testing positive for EPO during the 2008 Tour.

Furthermore, the UCI warned another five teams because they failed to fully pay for the fund for the new anti-doping system, however their payments were cleared.

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