Lampre-Merida pulls defending champ Chris Horner from Vuelta for low cortisol levels

Lampre-Merida has withdrawn defending Vuelta a España champion Chris Horner (U.S.A.) from the race on the eve of the Spanish Grand Tour for low cortisol levels. The low levels were detected when Lampre—a member of the Mouvement Pour un Cyclisme Credible—gave its riders additional testing ahead of the start in Jerez.

Low cortisol levels can be an indicator of a rider using corticoids, a steroid hormone. Lampre revealed that Horner had a therapeutic use exemption from the UCI for cortisone to treat bronchitis. This usage was within UCI rules and Horner could have raced if not for the MPCC’s standards. Lampre had no option but to withdraw the American from the Vuelta.

MPCC’s Roger Legeay told Cyclingnews, “He was sick, he was taking corticoids to treat his illness and the test showed that he wasn’t healthy enough to participate.”

Regarding his team’s decision, Horner said,” I understand it and we all must accept this situation without regrets.” He stated, “Of course I’m sad about this news. I was willing to try to defend the 2013 title. This bad bronchitis caused me a lot of problems. I’ve been suffering for it for weeks.”

Valerio Conti was brought in to replace Horner, and Lampre will now look to Winner Anacona and Damiano Cunego as their GC hopes.