Sexual harassment: UCI bans mountain biker Edgar Carballo Gonzalez

The cycling world federation UCI has banned Spanish mountain bike pro Edgar Carballo Gonzalez from all cycling-related activities for twelve months. The federation's independent ethics committee made this decision following an incident that was categorised as sexual harassment. The 36-year-old downhill and enduro specialist will therefore have to take a one-year break, while his previous supplier Mondraker has already announced the immediate termination of their collaboration. The ban affects all cycling-related activities and is one of the rare cases in which the UCI Ethics Commission imposes such a far-reaching sanction for sexual harassment.

Incident reported at UCI event

The proceedings were triggered by a report via the UCI platform SpeakUp, which offers those affected the opportunity to report grievances confidentially. A female rider had reported an incident that had occurred in her van in the official paddock of the UCI World Cup in Leogang. According to the report, Carballo Gonzalez had made sexual advances and touched the athlete inappropriately despite her clear refusal. The commission considered it particularly serious that the Spaniard even allegedly used the word "rape" during the incident. The ethics committee saw this behaviour as a clear violation of the rider's dignity and classified the incident as a clear case of sexual harassment. The investigation concluded that there had been a serious breach of the cycling federation's ethical principles.

Violations of the UCI Code of Ethics

The Ethics Commission came to the conclusion that Carballo Gonzalez had violated several provisions of the UCI Code of Ethics with his behaviour. Specifically, violations of Article 6.4, which regulates the protection of physical and mental integrity, and of Article 2.3 in Annex 1 of the Code, which explicitly deals with sexual harassment, were identified. These offences were classified as so serious that the Commission considered a one-year ban to be appropriate. However, the decision is not yet final, as Carballo Gonzalez has the opportunity to appeal against the judgement before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). It is not yet known whether the Spaniard will make use of this option. However, the ban emphasises the UCI's determination to take consistent action against misconduct in cycling.

Career and sporting successes

Edgar Carballo Gonzalez has made a name for himself in the mountain bike scene, particularly in downhill and enduro. The 36-year-old Spaniard has won several national championship titles in both disciplines in his home country, making him one of the most successful mountain bikers in Spain. He celebrated his greatest international success in 2022 by winning the E-EDR World Cup race in Innerleithen, Scotland. This success in the up-and-coming segment of electrically assisted enduro racing underlined his versatility as a rider. Most recently, Carballo Gonzalez raced for the Vadebicis-Mondraker team, where he was one of the team leaders. The ban that has now been imposed means a significant cut in his sporting career, as he is not allowed to compete in races for a full year.

Sponsor Mondraker ends cooperation

The Spanish bike manufacturer Mondraker, which was one of Carballo Gonzalez's main sponsors, reacted immediately to the decision of the UCI Ethics Commission. In an official statement, the company announced that it was ending its collaboration with the athlete with immediate effect. Mondraker emphasised that it respects the UCI's decision and will have no business relationship with Carballo Gonzalez "until further notice". This swift and clear reaction from the sponsor shows how seriously such accusations are taken in the cycling industry. For Carballo Gonzalez, this means not only a sporting ban but also a considerable financial blow, as he has now lost one of his most important supporters.

UCI reaffirms protection mandate

The UCI used the case to reaffirm its commitment to safety and integrity in cycling. The UCI emphasised that it would continue to take consistent action against offences that violate the dignity and integrity of people in the cycling environment. The UCI SpeakUp platform, which was used to report the incident, is an important element in offering those affected a protected way to report incidents. The federation sees such reporting systems as an essential tool for uncovering misconduct and responding appropriately. The UCI is thus signalling that it does not tolerate sexual harassment and other forms of misconduct in cycling and is prepared to take action against established athletes if they violate the ethical principles of the sport.