Philippine Cyclist Ariana Evangelista Speaks Out After Positive Doping Test at Asian Games
In a shocking turn of events, Philippine cycling bet Ariana Evangelista has broken her silence after testing positive for a banned substance and being provisionally suspended from the Asian Games. Evangelista, a veteran in the sport and a silver medalist at the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games, expressed her sincerest apologies for the situation and made it clear that it was never her intention to bring shame to the country.
Evangelista’s camp has already lodged an appeal against the decision made by the International Testing Agency (ITA). She reassured her fans and supporters that she is fully aware of the gravity of the situation and is doing everything she can to rectify it. Evangelista wrote, “Apologies as it took a while for me to make a statement. Please do know that I am aware of the situation and I am doing the best I can to fix it.”
In a statement released by the ITA on October 4th, it was revealed that two samples, blood and urine, were collected from Evangelista during an out-of-competition anti-doping control. The tests concluded that she had tested positive for erythropoietin, a performance-enhancing drug. This is the first time in her 10-year career that Evangelista has failed a doping test, with previous tests, including those conducted during her medal-winning events, showing negative results for banned substances.
Evangelista also shed light on previous doping tests she underwent during the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games and the Coupe du Japon Yawatahama International MTB Race. She affirmed that both tests, conducted in May 2023, resulted in negative findings. This raises questions as to why her recent test at the China Asian Games yielded a positive result.
In the midst of this controversy, Evangelista has made the decision to distance herself from social media in order to protect her mental and emotional well-being. Meanwhile, her camp anxiously awaits the results of the B-sample test, which could potentially determine her future in the sport.
This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against doping in sports and the importance of upholding fair play. As the Philippine cycling community processes this disappointing news, the hope remains that all parties involved will find a resolution that is just and in the best interest of the sport.
