Cyclist Ruben Lobato Suspended for Two Years for Irregular Blood Reading

Spanish cyclist Ruben Lobato was suspended for two years after his so-called biological passport showed irregular blood readings.

Lobato was suspended by the Spanish Cycling Federation, according to an e-mailed statement today from the Union Cycliste Internationale, the sport’s Aigle, Switzerland-based ruling body.

The passport program was set up two years ago. While there is no doping test ready for illegally transfusing one’s own blood, experts say irregular swings in blood markers like hemoglobin can indicate cheating. Some athletes try to raise stamina by increasing their volume of oxygen-carrying red blood cells.