ANKARA

A Colombian cyclist was disqualified Wednesday from the 2022 Tour de France after testing positive twice for a prohibited substance.

"Colombian rider Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas has been sanctioned for an infringement of the in-competition ban on using tramadol as set out in the UCI Medical Rules with the aim of protecting the safety and health of riders," the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) said in a statement.

The international cycling body said analyses of samples from the 32-year-old on July 8 and 13 (during the race) contained "tramadol and its two main metabolites."

"In accordance with the UCI Medical Rules, the rider is disqualified from the 2022 Tour de France," it said.

It added that Quintana can appeal the decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 10 days.

Quintana completed the 2022 Tour de France in sixth place.

UCI banned tramadol in 2019 to protect the health and safety of riders from its side effects.