Cycling News and Opinion
July 2, 2014

Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories

South African Rider Daryl Impey Tests Postive for Probenicid

The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) announced today that Daryl Impey tested positive for the banned drug Probenicid. Mr. Impey vehemently denies any wrongdoing. His statement is at the bottom of the page.

Probenicid has loomed large in cycling's past when Pedro Degaldo was positive for the drug in the 1988 Tour de France.

Impey wore the Yellow Jersey for a couple of days during the 2013 Tour de France.

Daryl Impey after stage seven of the 2013 Tour de France

Here is the SAIDS statement in full from their web site:

SA Road Cycling Champion Tests Positive For Doping Masking Agent

Cape Town, 02 July 2014 – The SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) has stated today that 30-year old road cycling champion, Darrel Impey, has been charged with a doping offense. The cyclist tested positive for the prescription diuretic, Probenecid. Impey was tested in-competition during the time trials at the SA Road Cycling Championships in Durban on 06 February 2014.

SAIDS’ CEO, Khalid Galant, explained that Impey has been provisionally suspended from 23 June 2014 for testing positive for Probenecid and the cyclist will be afforded an opportunity to defend himself against the doping charge in front of an independent tribunal panel.

Galant concludes: “The delay in making the announcement has been due to an extra confirmation analysis requirement, which is routine for banned substances of this nature.  The unfortunate passing of a key staff member at the doping control laboratory in Bloemfontein in March 2014 also affected the standard turn around time of presenting the final result of the samples from the SA Road Cycling Championships.”

Impey's Orica-GreenEdge team released the following:

Statement regarding Daryl Impey

ORICA-GreenEDGE has been notified that Daryl Impey has returned an adverse analytical finding and has been notified by The South African Institute for a Drug-Free sport that he delivered a positive A and B sample for the substance Probenecid after the South African Championships on February 6, 2014.

The team would like to underline that it respects Daryl Impey’s right to prove his full innocence and will not comment any further until the process has run its due course and final conclusion has been made.As per the team’s code of conduct,

Daryl Impey will not feature on the team’s roster until the case has been closed and he is fully eligible to ride.

The full statement Daryl Impey posted on his website

Further to the announcement of the Tour de France team and in the interests of full disclosure, I confirm that on 23 June 2014, I was notified by William Newman, the President of Cycling South Africa, about an adverse analytical finding for Probenecid following an in-competition test at the national time trial championships on 6 February 2014.

I had no knowledge of Probenecid nor have I ever taken the substance knowingly in any manner.  I am committed to drug-free sport and fully intend to take all steps necessary to clear myself of any suspicion.

The notification came as a complete shock to me just days before the start of the Tour de France, particularly since anti-doping tests conducted on me on 8 and 9 February 2014 yielded no adverse results.

I immediately flew back to South Africa and was present at the analysis of my B sample on 27 June 2014, the results of which confirmed the initial analysis.

I am extremely distressed by the finding, as I have always raced clean throughout my career.  Every result that I have achieved to date has been as a result of hard work and dedication on my part.

I notified my team immediately after being informed by Cycling South Africa of the adverse finding.  I would like to thank them, my family and friends for their support during this difficult time.  I remain confident that I will be vindicated and proved innocent of any wrongdoing.