The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has alerted the Absa Cape Epic to an adverse analytical finding from a sample provided by rider Yolande De Villiers during the 2015 event. The analytical report was one of three that confirmed the presence of hydrochlorothiazide (a diuretic) in her sample. As a result De Villiers was sanctioned with a period of ineligibility of 11 months from 31 January 2015 – 30 December 2015.
The Absa Cape Epic tightened its anti-doping rules in 2012 by introducing a lifetime ban for future offenders. The lifetime ban therefore applies to De Villiers.
The UCI ruling confirming an anti-doping rule violation results in the automatic disqualification of the results obtained in the 2015 Absa Cape Epic, where De Villiers, riding with Janka Keseg Stevkova, finished third overall.
De Villiers won the Women’s category in the 2007 Absa Cape Epic. She has completed nine of the 10 events she has started.
