Ilkhan Dostiyev, an Astana Qazaqstan Improvement Staff rider, has been fired after testing constructive for and admitting to utilizing the blood booster drug CERA.
The 22-year-old completed second on the Tour du Rwanda earlier this 12 months, behind Joe Blackmore (Israel-Premier Tech) after which received a stage and completed second total on the under-23 improvement race the Giro Ciclistico della Valle d’Aosta race in July. He examined constructive after an out of competitors take a look at on 30 July.
After he was examined, he received the Turul Romaniei stage race in Romania in August and was a part of Astana’s WorldTour squad on the Tour of Hainan in China. Nevertheless, along with his constructive take a look at introduced on Monday by biking’s governing physique, the UCI, he has now been fired by Astana as of Tuesday. The UCI confirmed that Dostiyev examined constructive for CERA, and will now face a ban of 4 years after an anti-doping tribunal.
CERA (steady erythropoietin receptor activator), is a drug which acts like EPO, boosting purple blood cell manufacturing. EPO was the go-to drug of dopers within the Nineties and past, with its use alleged to be revealed by way of the Organic Passport.
Astana Qazaqstan denied any duty, and stated that Dostiyev’s contract was instantly suspended after which terminated.
“This information got here as a shock and disappointment to us,” Alexandr Shushemoin, Astana’s head sports activities director stated on Tuesday. “We trusted Ilkhan Dostiyev as one of many staff’s leaders and we had nice expectations for him, which are actually fully shattered. After receiving the data, we promptly contacted the rider and demanded a proof, which Dostiyev offered, additionally expressing full willingness to cooperate with the UCI and anti-doping authorities.
“I can state with absolute certainty that Astana Qazaqstan Improvement Staff has no connection to this incident. Our staff adheres to a ‘zero-tolerance’ coverage, we work constantly with the riders and do our greatest to make sure that athletes perceive not solely the implications of utilizing doping but additionally the absurdity of trying to violate anti-doping guidelines.
“Provided that Dostiyev has admitted to the anti-doping violation, the rider has been suspended from racing, and his contract has been instantly terminated. We are actually cooperating absolutely and brazenly with all organizations concerned to make clear all the small print of what occurred”.
