Clarity at last for Hessmann and Visma | Lease a Bike after positive test: "Lightest possible suspension"

Michel Hessmann has been suspended for four months by the German anti-doping agency NADA. The 23-year-old German rider of Visma | Lease a Bike was informed on August 16, 2023, that a doping test on June 14 of that year had found a "diuretic drug" (also known as Chlortalidone). His team suspended Hessmann pending the results of the B-sample. When that also tested positive, they awaited the cycling union's decision, which took nearly a year to arrive.

In a press release, Visma | Lease a Bike announced that the German anti-doping agency NADA had issued its ruling in the case. According to the team, because the amount of Chlortalidone was "minimal", a four-month suspension was imposed. Hessmann has already served three months of this retroactively.

"The NADA has now concluded that it is plausible that Hessmann took a contaminated medicine such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or naproxen. Earlier, external experts came to that conclusion and the German judiciary dismissed the case back in January," said Visma | Lease a Bike in their statement.

"However, the NADA also believes that the risk of contaminated medication lies with the athlete and therefore proposed the lightest possible suspension of 4 months to Hessmann, with a retroactive effect of three months. That was accepted by the rider today (Friday, June 21, ed.). As a result, he is suspended for at least another month."

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Michel Hessmann in the 2023 Giro d'Italia

Hessmann faces contract uncertainty

For Hessmann, this will be a relief, though he still faces a difficult situation ahead. The German climber's contract with Visma | Lease a Bike is expiring and he has only the remaining months of the season to secure a new deal, either with his current team or elsewhere. It remains to be seen whether Visma | Lease a Bike wants to continue with Hessmann, who was suspended for several months. "After the suspension, Michel Hessmann and the team will consider how to proceed."