Three previous Volta a Portugal and 4 other Portuguese cyclists have been banned for doping. Rodrigues, winner of the 2021 Volta ao Algarve received a 7 year ban. He got a UCI 4 year ban biological passport abnormalities and three more years for possessing a banned method.
The others are Ricardo Vilela, Daniel Mestre, Samuel Caldiera, Jose Neves, Rui Vinhas and Ricardo Mestre. The doping products included human growth hormones, bethamethasone and other products.
