November 28, 2011 (Ottawa, Ontario) – The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport announced today that cyclist Miguel Agreda has received a two-year sanction for the use of erythropoietin (EPO) and ephedrine. The violation occurred during in-competition doping control during the Quebec Provincial Road Race Championships on August 28, 2011.

Agreda confessed to the use of a banned substance on October 21, 2011 in a personal blog on a popular cycling website. The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport continued to respect the athlete’s rights and did not provide comment until the results management process had been concluded. On November 4, the athlete waived his right to a hearing and accepted the proposed sanction of two years ineligibility from sport. The sanction commenced on October 20, 2011, the date of Agreda’s provisional suspension, and concludes on October 20, 2013. This marks the second Quebec cyclist to test positive for EPO this past summer.

EPO is a prohibited substance on the World Anti-Doping Agency 2011 Prohibited List. It is a peptide hormone that is produced naturally by the human body, released from the kidneys and acting on bone marrow to stimulate red blood cell production. An increase in red blood cells improves the amount of oxygen that the blood can carry to the body’s muscles. It may also increase the body’s capacity to buffer lactic acid.

“This testing was part of a strategic mission based on intelligence gathered in related testing. We continue to use more intelligence data and information to guide our testing in our efforts to protect the vast majority of athletes who choose to compete clean,” said Paul Melia, President and CEO of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. “We welcome information about doping activities and encourage people to contact us through our confidential communication systems.”

Any persons with knowledge of doping activities may contact the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport at: (1-800-710-CCES) or by email at intelligence@cces.ca.

The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport is an independent, national, not-for profit organization. We recognize that true sport can make a great difference for individuals, communities and our country. We are committed to working collaboratively to activate a values-based and principle-driven sport system; protecting the integrity of sport from the negative forces of doping and other unethical threats; and advocating for sport that is fair, safe and open to everyone.