The UCI has entered a war of words with WorldTour team Bahrain – Victorious after the controversial signing of Robert Stannard. Stannard, suspended for anomalies in his biological passport, is set to return to the peloton with Bahrain – Victorious. The anomalies, detected between 2018 and 2019, led to a retroactive UCI suspension ending in 2022. Stannard, who rode with Alpecin-Deceuninck in 2023, was removed from the 2023 road worlds roster after AusCycling learned of the suspension. Though he denied doping, the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal found him guilty of using a prohibited method, with his suspension backdated to August 17, 2018.
The Stannard signing
When the team announced the signing, they were a little creative in its wording. “The case has been highly contentious from the start, primarily because it has never been specified whether the rider is accused of using a prohibited substance or a prohibited method, and secondly, because he was able to provide explanations for what they had identified as ‘abnormal values,’” a statement, which has since been deleted, read.
Well, the gang in Switzerland saw it and were not impressed.
UCI has entered the chat
“The UCI has taken note of the statement made by UCI WorldTeam Bahrain Victorious on 20 August 2024, announcing the registration with immediate effect of Australian rider Robert Stannard and commenting the anti-doping proceedings against the rider,” a response began. “The UCI is surprised by the content of the statement—even though this has since been removed from the team’s website—and wishes to clarify a few points.”
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The statement noted on June 3, 2024, the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal found that Stannard had committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) of use of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method due to unexplained abnormalities in his Biological Passport in 2018 and 2019 and that his decision is now final.
Stannard tried to clear himself
Stannard presented evidence to defend himself, but the Tribunal rejected his explanations, confirming he used a prohibited substance or method based on his Biological Passport. He received a four-year suspension, backdated to August 17, 2018, due to procedural delays. His race results from August 2018 to August 2022 were annulled, and he was fined 70 per cent of his average annual salary at the time.
The UCI then pointed out that the allegations made by Bahrain…
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