The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announces that the Swiss Federal Court has rejected the appeal filed by Colombian cyclist Miguel Ángel López Moreno against the decision issued by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on May 7, 2025. The CAS decision confirmed the ruling of the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal (UCI ADT), which had found Mr. López guilty of use and possession of a prohibited substance concurrent with the 2022 Giro d'Italia.

The case is now definitively closed.

Background

The UCI opened and managed disciplinary proceedings against Mr. López in accordance with applicable regulations, based on evidence provided by the Spanish Guardia Civil and the Spanish Anti-Doping Organization (CELAD) to the International Testing Agency (ITA). The evidence was obtained in the context of Operation "Ilex", an investigation into Spanish physician Marcos Maynar concerning the alleged trafficking of unauthorized medicines that could pose a risk to public health (the CELAD Evidence).

On May 29, 2024, the UCI ADT found that Mr. López had committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) for use and possession of a prohibited substance. The decision was based on the CELAD evidence, including the interception of a package containing Menotropin** addressed to Mr. López concurrent with the 2022 Giro d'Italia.

The UCI ADT imposed the following sanctions:
- a period of ineligibility of four years, from July 25, 2023 to July 24, 2027;
- disqualification of all results obtained between May 3, 2022 and July 25, 2023; and
- a fine equal to 70% of Mr. López's gross cycling income for 2022.

Mr. López appealed the UCI ADT decision to the CAS. After examining the facts and applicable law, a panel of three CAS members fully upheld the UCI ADT decision.

Mr. López then challenged the CAS decision before the Federal Court. He argued, among other things, that relying on the CELAD evidence and imposing a significant fine violated the procedural and substantive safeguards provided by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

In a ruling dated August 19, 2026, the Federal Court rejected Mr. López's appeal. The ruling is final.

Federal Court Conclusions

In its 29-page ruling, the Federal Court confirmed that the CAS panel had the right to rely on the CELAD evidence collected during Operation "Ilex".

The Federal Court observed that the exchange of information between CELAD, ITA, and UCI is, on the face of it, consistent with cooperation between public authorities and sports organizations promoted by the International Convention Against Doping in Sport of October 19, 2005, ratified by numerous countries, including Spain and Switzerland.

The Federal Court also examined Mr. López's argument that the CELAD evidence may have been obtained illegally under Spanish law. It found that such an allegation had not been established and determined that, in the circumstances of this case, ascertaining the truth was of paramount importance, given the legitimate objective of protecting fair competition and combating doping.

The Federal Court further found that the CAS judgment, which upheld the UCI ADT decision, was compatible with procedural public policy and the procedural safeguards applicable under the ECHR.

The Federal Court also noted that private sports governance bodies such as the UCI "often depend on the results of investigations conducted by state authorities, since, unlike the latter, they do not enjoy broad investigative and coercive powers [free translation from French]".

The Financial Sanction
The Federal Court also validated the UCI anti-doping provision establishing that a rider who intentionally commits an ADRV may, in addition to sanctions provided by the World Anti-Doping Code, be required to pay a fine equal to 70% of the gross cycling income to which he was entitled during the calendar year in which the violation occurred (Article 10.12.1 of the UCI Anti-Doping Rules).

The Federal Court found that this rule has a legitimate purpose: to prevent a rider who intentionally violates anti-doping rules from obtaining a financial benefit from such conduct.

The Federal Court further determined that a financial sanction may be an appropriate way to punish serious anti-doping violations and deter other athletes from using prohibited substances. In its view, such a sanction can enhance the effectiveness of anti-doping rules by serving both a punitive and general deterrent purpose. It can therefore contribute to protecting fair competition in the interest of athletes and the public.

The Federal Court therefore found that the fine imposed on Mr. López was compatible with substantive public policy and ECHR safeguards.

UCI Statement
The UCI welcomes the Federal Court ruling. The ruling confirms that the sanctions provided by the UCI Anti-Doping Rules, including financial sanctions, pursue a legitimate objective in the interest of cycling and can be proportionate even when the amount at stake is significant.

The UCI reaffirms its determination to protect the integrity of cycling and ensure fair competition.

The decision issued by the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal on May 29, 2024, the ruling issued by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on May 7, 2025, and the ruling issued by the Federal Court on August 19, 2026 will be published shortly on the UCI website.

* Menotropin is a prohibited substance under class S2.2 [Peptide hormones and their releasing factors] of the Prohibited List, maintained by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and adopted by the UCI.