The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announced on 27 January 2026 that the Colombian cyclist Germán Darío Gómez Becerra had tested positive for boldenone and one of its metabolites during a training test. The sample was taken on 28 December 2025 outside of a competition. In accordance with the UCI's anti-doping rules, the rider from the Polti VisitMalta team has been provisionally suspended. Under the applicable regulations, Gómez has the right to request that the B sample be analysed. As is standard practice, the UCI stated that it would not make any further comments while the proceedings are ongoing. Boldenone and its metabolites are banned substances listed in class S1.1 (anabolic androgenic steroids) of the 2026 Prohibited List maintained by the World Anti-Doping Agency and adopted by the UCI.
Reaction of the Polti VisitMalta team
Team Polti VisitMalta reacted immediately to the notification from the UCI and also suspended the rider. In an official statement, the team explained: "Today we at Team Polti VisitMalta received a notification from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) regarding a possible anti-doping rule violation by our rider Germán Darío Gómez Becerra, relating to an inadmissible analytical result from an out-of-competition test on 28 December 2025. As a result, the UCI has imposed a mandatory provisional suspension on the rider with immediate effect." The team emphasised its strict zero-tolerance policy towards doping, pointing out that this principle is a non-negotiable basis of their project and is clearly stated in all contracts as well as in the team's Code of Conduct. In line with this policy and the UCI's decision, the team has also suspended the rider's contract and he will be excluded from all team activities until the proceedings are finalised. The team reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to clean cycling and pledged to continue to co-operate fully with the UCI and all relevant authorities to clarify the facts.
Background on boldenone in cycling
Boldenone, the substance for which Germán Darío Gómez tested positive, is an anabolic steroid that was originally developed for veterinary medicine, particularly for horses. It is abused in humans because of its muscle-building properties. The substance has long been on the banned list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in the category of anabolic androgenic steroids. In cycling, there have already been several cases of positive tests for boldenone in the past, with some athletes, particularly from South America, arguing that the substance had entered their bodies through contaminated meat. However, this defence strategy has rarely been successful as the burden of proof is on the athletes to prove the exact route of contamination. The UCI and WADA have refined their testing procedures for boldenone in recent years to differentiate between endogenous (naturally produced in the body) and exogenous (introduced from outside) boldenone, which has made the defence of alleged meat contamination more difficult.
Impact on the Polti VisitMalta team
For the Polti VisitMalta team, this doping case comes at an unfavourable time, as the 2026 season has only just begun. As a non-WorldTour ProTeam, Polti VisitMalta relies on invitations to major races, and a doping case within the team can affect its image and chances of gaining such invitations. The team reacted quickly and decisively in an attempt to limit the damage by emphasising its strict anti-doping stance and immediately suspending the rider. This clear positioning is intended to signal that this is an isolated case and not a systemic problem within the team. Nevertheless, the case will undoubtedly attract the attention of the cycling world and could lead to increased scrutiny of other team members.
Leon Weidner
Working student
