The UCI announced that Croatian rider Kristijan Durasek (open in new tab) has been banned for four years for "anti-doping rule violations (use of prohibited methods/substances) committed between 2016 and 2019, based on information received from Austrian law enforcement authorities." The company announced that it had received a ban.

Dulasek turned professional with Lampre-Merida in 2013 after seven years with the Croatian Continental team. He remained with the team until its transition to UAE Team Emirates. (Open in new tab)

Dulasek uncovered an illegal blood doping ring involving Nordic skiers and athletes such as Georg Preidler, Stefan Denifl, Kristijan Koren, Borut Bozic, Alessandro Petacchi, and many others He was involved in the Austrian investigation "Operation Aderlass" (opens in new tab).

News that the UCI had issued a provisional punishment in May surfaced while he was competing in the Tour of California with UAE Team Emirates. He immediately stopped racing and returned home, and has not raced since.

Denifle became the first athlete to be suspended in this case after admitting to blood doping. He was banned and disqualified for four years, from June 1, 2014 to March 5, 2019. Petacchi, who had already retired, received a two-year suspension and was disqualified in 2012 and 2013.

The UCI also suspended Slovenians Kristijan Koren and Borut Božić for two years, disqualifying them only in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Operation Adelrath began at the Nordic Ski World Championships in Seefeld, Austria, when authorities raided a hotel and reportedly caught one athlete receiving a blood transfusion at the hotel.

The investigation extended to Erfurt, Germany, where police there found an estimated 40 blood bags in a garage associated with former Milram doctor Mark Schmidt. Schmidt and four others were arrested in connection with the ring.

German authorities later confirmed that 21 athletes from five different sports and eight different countries were under investigation for blood doping.

While the case has highlighted biological passports as an effective way to deter blood doping, a 2018 study showed that a blood transfusion as small as 135 ml can boost performance by up to 5%, while biological passport measures remain largely undetectable The study showed that.

Denifle, who signed with the CCC team but resigned before the 2019 season began, had no warning signs on his passport, according to CCC team manager Jim Ochowicz.