May 4, 2003 – The International Cycling Union has taken note of the judgment announced by the Prevention and anti-doping Council (CPLD) in the DeGaldeano case, and maintains that certain precisions must be given as to the motives withheld to sanction, by default, the Spanish rider.

The CPLD maintains that the rider did not give any medical justification in relation to his usage of salbutamol (Ventolin). The UCI resubmits that the health booklet of DeGaldeano and a medical certificate had been given to the designated French Ministry doctor during testing. On August 28th 2002, the UCI sent another copy of these documents directly to the CPLD.

As for the concentration of salbutamol found in the rider's urine, the CPLD assessed that “it could not be seen as a consequence of use of Ventolin in the usual therapeutic way”. This opinion, already questionable on legal grounds, is contested by specialists consulted by the UCI, notably heads of anti-doping laboratories.

Finally, the UCI came to the conclusion that the non-attendance of Mr. DeGaldeano in the procedure before the CPLD has weighed heavily in this case's result. We can only regret this attitude from the rider, who was wrong not to have presented his defense.