The ITA welcomes the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal’s decision regarding Robert Stannard

The Tribunal found that Robert Stannard committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) for use of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method due to unexplained abnormalities in his Biological Passport* in 2018 and 2019. These abnormalities were thoroughly followed up and investigated by the ITA after the UCI delegated its operational anti-doping program to the independent organisation in the beginning of 2021. As a consequence, the Tribunal has imposed a four-year period of suspension on the rider as well as a monetary fine corresponding to 70% of his average annual salary in 2018 and 2019.

In accordance with the applicable rules, i.e. the World Anti-Doping Code and the UCI Anti-Doping Rules, the Tribunal decided that the period of suspension shall start on 17 August 2018, i.e. the day of the appearance of the first abnormality, taking into account the delay with which the rider’s abnormalities were communicated to the UCI.

The decision is not final as it can be appealed before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) by the rider, his National Federation and National Anti-Doping Agency, the UCI and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) within one month. The decision will be published on the UCI website once final.

The ITA will not comment further on the matter.