On November 27, 2023, Antwan Tolhoek delivered a positive doping test, the UCI announced on Wednesday. The Dutch cyclist, who has been with a Portuguese team since January 1, has been suspended by the global cycling union pending the results of the B-sample. He is given the opportunity to request it.
ADVERTISEMENT
The UCI stated in the communique that anabolic androgenic steroids had been found in Tolhoek during an out-of-competition test on November 27, 2023. According to the UCI rules, Tolhoek is now provisionally suspended and has the right to request a B-sample.
Tolhoek has been racing for the Portuguese continental team Sabgal-Anicolor Cycling Team since January 1, where he made his debut last Sunday in the Prova de Abertura, finishing nineteenth. He was scheduled to participate in the Figueira Champions Classic next week and then race in the Tour of the Algarve, but will now definitely have to miss out on riding those races.
ADVERTISEMENT
Before joining the Portuguese team, he rode for Lidl-Trek (formerly Trek-Segafredo), but Tolhoek had some difficult years there. After his contract with the WorldTour team was not renewed, he moved two levels down and joined Sabgal.
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.