DENVER - Cyclist and Tucson native Philip Zajicek has been banned for life after admitting to multiple doping violations in a case stemming from an investigation into EPO and human-growth hormone trafficking from China for nearly 200 athletes.
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said Friday that Zajicek, a Sahuaro High graduate admitted to a second doping offense for purchasing EPO, a third doping offense for providing false testimony at an arbitration hearing and for encouraging other witnesses to provide false testimony.
About a dozen athletes around the world have been penalized in this case, including American riders Jonathan Chodroff and Duane Dickey.
One of the key figures in the case was cyclist Joe Papp, who served as an intermediary between the athletes and Chinese sellers of the performance-enhancing drugs in 2006 and 2007.
Zajicek, 32, is a former U.S. junior champion who received a first sanction in 2004 after testing positive for a stimulant. He most recently won the Tucson Bike Classic here in March and had a notable stage win at the 2009 Tour of the Gila.
Read more about the USADA's ruling in Saturday's Arizona Daily Star.
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