30 March 2021
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announced today that the Italian rider Matteo De Bonis was notified of an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for Erythropoietin (EPO) in a sample collected during an out-of-competition control held on 16 February 2021.
This target doping control was planned and carried out by the ITA on behalf of the UCI.
The rider has the right to request and attend the analysis of his B sample.
In accordance with UCI Anti-Doping Rules, the rider has been provisionally suspended until the adjudication of the affair.
This constitutes the second AAF for a member of the UCI ProTeam Vini Zabu’ within a twelve-month period. For reminder, on 22 October 2020, the UCI notified the Italian rider Matteo Spreafico of two AAFs for Enobosarm (ostarine) in two samples collected during the Giro d’Italia on 15 and 16 October 2020.
These two cases within the same twelve-month period trigger the application of Article 11.3.1 of the UCI Anti-Doping Rules providing for the suspension of the team from 15 to 45 days.
The UCI will shortly refer the matter to the Disciplinary Commission which will render a decision in due course.
At this stage of the procedure, the ITA and the UCI will not comment any further on any of these matters.