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Astana suspend Miguel Lopez following link to drug trafficking investigation

Rider may be connected to doctor under investigation

our Of The Alps; Tappa 05 Lienz - Lienz; 2022, Astana - Qazaqstan; Lopez Moreno, Miguel Angel

The Astana rider  Miguel Angel Lopez from Colombia has been internally suspended by his team following reports that have him connected to a drug trafficking case in Spain.

According to the Spanish website Ciclo21, police were investigating his connection with Dr Marcos Maynar. Maynar is a professor at the University of Extremadura, and is currently under investigation for both alleged drug trafficking and money laundering.

Lopez was originally only a witness in the police investigation. However, that changed on Thursday when police intercepted him at the Madrid-Barajas Airport, relating to the Maynar investigation. The report deals with illegal medication being distributed in Spain.

“The news that was spread in the media yesterday evening caught us by surprise, and at the moment we do not have any details,” the team said in a statement on Twitter. “In this regard, the team decided to suspend Miguel Angel Lopez from any activity within the team until all the circumstances of the case are clarified.”

Lopez has not raced since he injured his hip early on at the Giro d”Italia. He quit the race on stage 4.