Lotto-Soudal’s Tosh van der Sande failed an anti-doping control at the Six Days of Gent track race in Belgium, the team confirmed Wednesday.
According to the team, the unnamed substance occurs in a nasal spray that is permitted providing a rider mentions it during a doping test.
“Today, Lotto Soudal was notified by its rider Tosh Van der Sande of a positive doping test during the Six Days of Ghent where he took part in between 12 and 18 November 2018”, read the team’s statement.
“The substance is a permitted one and occurs in the nasal spray Sofrasolone, that is freely available and allowed to be used in competition if mentioned during a control.
“After a meeting with the rider, the Board has decided to suspend him, in expectation of the investigation executed by the UCI and to allow the rider to underpin his defense in the best possible way
“Lotto Soudal will give no further explanations until the UCI procedure has terminated”.
Van der Sande has ridden exclusively for Lotto Soudal during his pro career. His contract is set to run through 2020.
