The UCI announces that the Greek rider Christos Volikákis has been sanctioned with a three-year period of ineligibility following an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) for the presence of selective androgen receptor modulators (SARM) of the LGD-4033 metabolite. These are prohibited substances listed in class S1.2 (Other Anabolic Agents) of the list managed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and adopted by the UCI.

In compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code) and the UCI Anti-Doping Regulations (UCI ADR), the period of ineligibility began on March 15, 2024, and is valid until March 14, 2027 (inclusive). The ADRV results from the reanalysis of a sample collected on August 16, 2016, during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games, from which the cyclist was disqualified.

The reanalysis was conducted as part of the program led by the International Testing Agency (ITA) on behalf of the IOC, focused on samples collected during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games. These reanalyses are an integral part of the global anti-doping program independently conducted by the ITA on behalf of the IOC since 2018. They strengthen anti-doping efforts by serving as an additional deterrent against doping and expanding the spectrum of potential rule violations identified beyond the initial sample analysis. The reanalysis program allows for additional testing based on updated information, particularly through investigations, or when detection methods evolve due to advances in scientific technology.

The controversy was resolved with the acceptance of consequences, as provided for by the Code and UCI ADR.