Kiwi cyclist admits using banned drug, withdraws

Kiwi cyclist Anthony Peden withdrew from the Olympics on Friday after admitting that he used a banned drug for medicinal reasons.

Australian-born New Zealand cyclist Anthony Peden withdrew from the Athens Olympics on Friday after telling team officials he used a banned drug for medicinal reasons.

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New Zealand Chef de Mission Dave Currie said Peden's decision to use the cortisone-type drug Triamcinoline without consulting team doctors or cycling team officials had been "naive and inexplicable," New Zealand Press Association (NZPA) reported early Saturday.

The drug is not performance-enhancing and had been prescribed by a German doctor for chronic back pain, Peden said. Peden, 33, who switched allegiance from Australia to New Zealand in 1998, was reportedly returning to his home in Newcastle, Australia, on Friday as his track cycling teammates arrived in Athens from a pre-Games camp in France.

The veteran cyclist faces disciplinary action from the New Zealand cycling body BikeNZ.

Triamcinoline features on the World Anti Doping Agency's list of banned substances.

"In my mind Anthony hasn't had a positive drug test but we can't condone his lack of attention to detail," BikeNZ high performance director Warren Lister told NZPA.

"We're embarrassed to be associated with any kind of banned substance."