WorldTour group Bahrain Victorious seem to have eliminated feedback pertaining to their new signing Robert Stannard, after the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) issued a press release rebutting the group and rider’s claims in regards to the Australian’s current anti-doping case.
Stannard, 25, was introduced as a Bahrain Victorious rider on Tuesday, becoming a member of the squad with instant impact after the conclusion of a drawn-out anti-doping case, which each the rider and group appeared to disclaim the ruling of in a launch confirming the information.
Stannard had been provisionally suspended by the UCI on 2 August 2023 for abnormalities in his Athlete Organic Passport (ABP) from 2018 and 2019. On 4 June of this 12 months, the UCI delivered their ruling on the case, and handed Stannard a backdated four-year ban, ranging from the date of the primary irregular pattern in August 2018, which means his ends in that interval have all been cancelled however his ban has now been served.
His most up-to-date group, Alpecin-Deceuninck, parted methods with the rider on the finish of 2023, however he has been picked up by Bahrain Victorious for the remainder of 2024 and 2025. In saying the information, the Bahrain squad made feedback about his case, suggesting they didn’t agree with the UCI’s ruling.
“We’re completely satisfied to have Robert becoming a member of us. Robert went by way of a troublesome interval, with a variety of confusion, however we help him, and thru our medical groups’ evaluation we couldn’t conclude any wrongdoing,” Vladimir Miholjevič, Bahrain Victorious’ efficiency supervisor, stated in a press launch issued by the group on Tuesday.
Stannard himself additionally commented within the launch, expressing his happiness at having the ability to race once more after making the “selection” to just accept the ruling fairly than “struggle to clear [his] title”, and arguing towards the choice taken by the UCI.
“They alleged that it may solely have been brought on by ‘unlawful means’, however all through your entire course of, offered no proof of any wrongdoing. No proof of doping is collected or required for them to achieve this judgment,” he stated.
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Nonetheless, the group have since deleted that a part of the press launch from their web site, and on Friday the UCI responded to reiterate their findings and “right” the “deceptive” assertion.
“The UCI is stunned by the content material of the assertion – though this has since been faraway from the group’s web site – and needs to make clear just a few factors,” their launch stated.
The governing physique went on to substantiate that the choice handed down in June was remaining, and that Stannard failed to offer explanations for the abnormalities in his ABP.
“Robert Stannard had the chance to offer supporting written explanations and knowledgeable proof, each in writing and through a listening to. The Tribunal rejected the rider’s explanations and held that he used a prohibited substance and/or technique as evidenced by his Organic Passport. In accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and the UCI Anti-Doping Guidelines (UCI ADR), a four-year interval of suspension was imposed. Nonetheless, the beginning of the interval of ineligibility was anticipated by the Tribunal in view of delays within the proceedings not attributable to the rider or the UCI,” the assertion stated.
It then went on to explicitly rattling the feedback made by the group earlier this week.
“In step with the above, the allegations made by Bahrain Victorious, reminiscent of ‘it has by no means been specified whether or not the rider is accused of utilizing a prohibited substance or a prohibited technique’ and ‘by way of our medical groups’ evaluation we couldn’t conclude any wrongdoing’ are clearly incorrect and deceptive.
“It’s unlucky that the UCI is put in a state of affairs to right statements by a UCI WorldTeam associated to a matter as essential because the struggle towards doping.”
The discharge from Bahrain Victorious that’s at the moment obtainable on their web site is now simply two sentences lengthy, with no reference to Stannard’s case in any respect, and no quotes from the rider.
“Crew Bahrain Victorious are happy to announce the addition of Australian climber & classics specialist Robert Stannard to the roster with instant impact. The 25-year-old has signed till the top of subsequent season,” it reads.
Other than eradicating the preliminary feedback, there doesn’t appear to be another consequence for Bahrain Victorious, with the UCI saying that they’d not remark additional on the case.
Stannard is but to make his return to racing, however is slated to seem on the Lloyds Financial institution Tour of Britain, beginning subsequent Monday.
