Guerreiro forced to respond to doping accusations during absence: 'checked the calendar to see if it was April fools'

For Ruben Guerreiro, 2025 was a year to forget. The Portuguese rider from Movistar Team endured a very difficult season, with his contract expiring at the end of the year. It had been quiet around the climber for some time, but suddenly his name is back in the headlines. Spanish media have suggested he is involved in a doping case, which would explain his absence from the peloton. Guerreiro has now felt compelled to respond.

Guerreiro won a stage of the Giro d'Italia in 2020, along with the mountains classification. Two years later, he also claimed victory at the Mont Ventoux Dénivelé Challenge, before adding the Saudi Tour to his palmarès in 2023. But over the past two seasons, things have gone downhill for the Portuguese rider, who struggled with ongoing physical issues. His absence from Movistar raised questions: why was his contract not renewed, and why had there been no news about his future?

Spanish newspaper AS claimed to have the answer. According to their report, Guerreiro missed Movistar’s team presentation because he had run into trouble with the anti-doping authorities. He allegedly failed to declare a trip in the Anti-Doping Administration & Management System (ADAMS), meaning he could not be located for potential doping controls. The newspaper suggested this was the reason he is currently without a team.

Serious allegations—and Guerreiro had read them too. The Portuguese rider felt forced to respond to the claims. “I even checked the calendar to see if it was April fools,” he told Topcycling. “I have no problems with my contract, I have not committed any illegal acts, and I have never even received a missed test notification.”

“In my 11 years as a professional, the people who follow me know that I have always been transparent, loyal to my work and ethical,” continued the 31-year-old, as he explained his absence from Movistar. “We stopped talking to teams because since November I haven’t been able to work 25–30 hours a week anymore. My focus right now is on the gym and physiotherapy.”

So injury, not doping, is the reason the Portuguese rider is currently sidelined - a problem that has been bothering him for years. “The first serious inflammation started during a training camp with the team ahead of the Giro d’Italia; I couldn’t even sleep, let alone train. I suffered from neck issues, specifically a hernia.”

Guerreiro has not given up on finding a new team. His chapter with Movistar appears to be closed, but he remains hopeful that another opportunity will arise. “I haven’t committed to anyone yet because I’m not fit enough to race, but I’m working on my recovery. Teams seem desperate to beat the top leaders and end up losing clarity.”

It is not easy for an ‘older’ rider to secure a contract. “A 31-year-old cyclist who has a bad year or gets injured is pushed aside, but there are still many riders over 30 who perform well and show that age is just a number. Performance-wise, anything is possible; it just requires people to come together and willingness from all sides.”