Sprinter Bauge stripped of gold

Wednesday, 11 January 2012 16:07

Written by Editor

Britain's Jason Kenny has been promoted to world individual sprint champion after Frenchman Gregory Bauge was suspended for drug test infringements. Bauge has been stripped of the title he won in Apeldoorn in March by world governing body the UCI. Sir Chris Hoy moves up from bronze to silver as a result of the suspension. In the team sprint, Germany are promoted from silver to gold, Britain from bronze to silver, and Australia from fourth to bronze.

It is a first world gold for Kenny, who won the team sprint title at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

"The news came as quite a surprise and whilst it's an honour to get my first senior World Championship title, I would have preferred to have achieved it under different circumstances," said Kenny. "I am looking forward to riding the rest of the season wearing the rainbow jersey."

The UCI took action after Bauge received a backdated suspension from the French federation. France also lose the team sprint world title as Bauge took part in the races.

The French cycling federation handed Bauge a 12-month suspension in response to one missed test in 18 months and a violation of rules governing rider availability for drug tests. The suspension was backdated to 23rd  December 2010 and hence expired on 22nd  December 2011, but the UCI has now decided that all of Bauge's results in that period – including his two world title-winning races – will be annulled.