Race news

'Intelligence-led testing' leads to positive doping case at UAE Tour Women

The International Testing Agency (ITA) has announced that Linda Laporta of Vini Fantini-BePink tested positive for enobosarm at last month's UAE Tour Women. The Italian has been provisionally suspended pending analysis of the B-sample.

by Barry Ryan
Free to read. No paywall. Support our work and never miss a story:
Linda Laporta Vini Fantini-BePink UAE Tour Women 2026
Cor Vos

Italian rider Linda Laporta has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for enobosarm at the UAE Tour Women in February.

In a statement, the International Testing Agency (ITA) said that the sample had been collected during an “intelligence-led testing mission” on February 5.

Enobosarm, also known as ostarine, is a non-steroidal anabolic agent that is prohibited both in and out of competition. According to the ITA, the substance has been shown to increase lean body mass and promote muscle growth.

Laporta raced at the recent Setmana Valenciana and Trofeo Oro in Euro, but she has now been provisionally suspended pending the analysis of the B-sample.

The 26-year-old, who rides for Vini Fantini-BePink, is in her third season as a professional. Her best results were top 10 finishes at last year’s Giro del Veneto and Giro dell’Appennino.

Laporta competed in gymnastics as a teenager before turning her attention to cycling in 2022. She was handed a contract with BePink in 2025 after testing at the Mapei Centre and she was selected in the team for last year’s Giro d’Italia Women.

Neither Laporta nor Vini Fantini-BePink have responded to the news of her positive test and provisional suspension.

Just in

Editor's Picks

we are grateful to our partners.
Are you?

We believe cycling journalism should be accessible to everyone. That's why Domestique remains free to read, with the support of our partners. We work with brands that respect our audience and help us keep producing independent cycling journalism. If you come across them, we hope you'll consider supporting the brands that support Domestique.

Domestique
Co-created with our Founding Domestiques Thank you for your ideas, feedback and support ❤️