Officials warn that DHEA is sold over the counter but remains banned in sport after the latest cycling doping case.
Doping Control (Photo: Tim De Waele/Getty Images)
Published March 28, 2026 06:20AM
American cyclist Valeria Cardozo Cabrera accepted a three-year doping ban after testing positive for a prohibited anabolic agent, the USADA confirmed.
Cardozo Cabrera, 27, returned an adverse analytical finding following a urine test after victory at the Spartanburg Criterium on May 2, 2025.
Officials said isotope ratio mass spectrometry detected the presence of dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, of synthetic origin, adding that the testing method “differentiates between anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) naturally produced by the body and AAS of synthetic origin.”
Though legally sold over the counter in the United States, USADA said that DHEA remains prohibited in sport.
“USADA reminds athletes and support personnel that while DHEA is legally available in the United States as an ingredient in over-the-counter products, it remains a prohibited substance,” a press note said.
DHEA is classified as a non-specified anabolic agent and is banned at all times under rules enforced by WADA and the UCI.
The case is the latest where even legally available supplements can trigger sanctions, but specific details were not revealed by USADA.
Officials said Cardozo Cabrera accepted a reduced sanction under provisions of the WADA anti-doping code that encourage early admissions, so a standard four-year ban was cut to three years.
Her suspension began July 17, 2025, the date of her provisional suspension. All results from May 2, 2025 were also removed, including any points, prizes, or placings, USADA said.
She won the High Line Criterium in April 2025, but her victory in the Spartanburg Criterium was scratched due to the sanction.
USADA said the case was back-dated due to additional information gathered during its investigation.
The case is the most recent to hit U.S. racing.
A master’s champion was banned last year after the gran fondo world championships, while another American rider was part of a team-wide ban in Portugal last month.
