RadioShack defend Vuelta winner Horner after ‘missed test’

Cycling team say Spanish officials repsonsible for random test blunder

Chris Horner’s  Vuelta a Espana win has been soured by claims of an incomplete random test.  Photograph: Joseba Etxaburu/Reuters
Chris Horner’s Vuelta a Espana win has been soured by claims of an incomplete random test. Photograph: Joseba Etxaburu/Reuters

RadioShack insist Spanish anti-doping officials are responsible for Vuelta a Espana winner Chris Horner missing an out of competition anti-doping test on Monday morning.

Horner became the oldest winner of a Grand Tour, with the biggest win of his career, on Sunday, when he secured victory at the age of 41. Reports emerged this morning that he failed to complete a random test, but RadioShack have issued a statement accompanied by screenshots of emails sent by the American to clarify that the Spanish Anti-Doping Agency is at fault.

“Chris Horner updated his whereabouts with United States Anti-Doping Agency before the start of the final stage,” the statement read. “He gave Usada the name of his hotel for the night, phone number and room number for his one-hour window between 6 to 7am.

"This is all according to the rules and Chris Horner received a confirmation email. The anti-doping inspectors from the Spanish anti-doping agency that were asked to do the test by Usada showed up at the wrong hotel in Madrid, where the team was staying but Horner was obviously not to be found."

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RadioShack are frustrated that news of the missed test was made public.

“The team believes the communication between the Spanish anti-doping agency and the media is a violation of the privacy of Chris Horner, especially since it comes down to a clear mistake by the tester,” the statement read. “The team will seek compensation for this matter with the responsible anti-doping agencies.”