Convicted EPO doper Jarlinson Pantano returns to cycling with Colombian EPM team
Former WorldTour cyclist Jarlinson Pantano has returned to cycling after his ban from the sport expired. Pantano, who previously rode for IAM Cycling and Trek-Segafredo, won stages of the Tour de France, Tour de Suisse and Volta a Catalunya before testing positive for EPO in 2019. The Colombian was subsequently suspended and fired from Trek. He retired from the sport, citing his unwillingness to spend money to fight the UCI, but was later given a four-year ban which has now ended. Pantano has joined amateur level club EPM in his native Colombia. The team is sponsored by a utilities company from the country’s northwest, based in Medellin, and its kit is made by clothing company Go Rigo Go, which is connected to EF Education-EasyPost pro Rigoberto Urán. Earlier this year, Pantano defended fellow Colombian Nairo Quintana from the UCI, accusing it of trying to damage the image of Colombian cyclists after Quintana tested positive for tramadol while riding the Tour de France.