EF Schooling-EasyPost have introduced that the group has terminated Andrea Piccolo‘s contract efficient instantly after the rider was stopped by Italian authorities whereas coming into the nation on Friday “on suspicion of transporting Human Progress Hormone”.
The 23-year-old, who joined the US group from Androni Giocattoli in 2022, had been topic to an inside suspension at EF again in March after he was discovered to have been “taking a sleeping assist that was not authorized by the group, although authorized.”
Piccolo’s contract has now been terminated following the incident with Italian authorities on Friday, June 21, with the group stating that that they had been unable to terminate the contract again in March.
EF said that the group will “cooperate absolutely with any investigation into the matter, and we encourage Andrea to be open and truthful with anti-doping authorities.”
‘Trafficking or Tried Trafficking in any Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Technique by an Athlete or Different Individual’ constitutes an anti-doping rule violation beneath Article 2.7 of the WADA Code. If discovered responsible, athletes or ‘different individuals’ committing the violation face a WADA-mandated suspension from between a minimal of 4 years as much as a lifetime suspension, relying on the seriousness of the violation.
“EF Professional Biking has terminated Andrea Piccolo’s contract, efficient instantly,” EF said in a put up to Twitter on Friday.
“Piccolo was suspended internally with out pay in March after taking a sleeping assist that was not authorized by the group, although authorized. The group reported the utilization to the UCI instantly, however as a result of authorized causes surrounding the UCI customary rider contract, we had been unable to terminate his contract on the time. After serving his suspension, he returned to competitors on the Giro d’Italia.
“On June 21, Piccolo was stopped by Italian authorities upon coming into the nation on suspicion of transporting human development hormone. Our group will cooperate absolutely with any investigation into the matter, and we encourage Andrea to be open and truthful with anti-doping authorities.”
This season, Piccolo has raced 34 days for EF, together with outings on the Tour Colombia and Paris-Good. Final month he accomplished 18 phases of the Giro d’Italia, ending fourth on stage 6, earlier than abandoning following a tough crash on stage 19.
Based on his Instagram, Piccolo has just lately been coaching in Colombia however on Friday rode close to Lake Maggiore in Lombardy, near Italy’s northern border with Switzerland. He was anticipated to journey Tuscany to journey the Italian nationwide championship however now could be with out a group and going through large questions.
Piccolo has not reacted to the EF Schooling announcement.
