Rogers cleared by UCI to race again

Former world time trial champ given green signal after body confirms that meat he had in China caused positive dope test

Michael Rogers had won three straight world title from 2003 [GALLO/GETTY]

Former world time trial champion Michael Rogers can race again after cycling’s governing body accepted that meat he ate in China likely caused his positive doping test.

The International Cycling Union agreed ‘there was a significant probability’ clenbuterol in his sample came from contaminated meat. Rogers raced in China, where clenbuterol is administered to livestock, days before testing positive at the Japan Cup last October.

“I received the extremely pleasing news that the UCI has decided that no period of ineligibility is to be imposed against me following my inadvertent adverse analytical finding for Clenbuterol in October 2013,” Rogers said in a statement.

“I am looking forward to getting back to work, competing in the sport I love.”

The UCI disqualified Rogers from the Japanese race but consulted the World Anti-Doping Agency before deciding ‘he should not be sanctioned any further’.

The 34-year-old Australian was provisionally suspended from Team Saxo-Tinkoff last December.

Rogers won three straight world titles from 2003-05. In 2012, he was upgraded to bronze in the 2004 Athens Olympics time trial after winner Tyler Hamilton was disqualified for doping.

Source: AP