The CEO of Aprilia Racing has conceded he would be “surprised” if Andrea Iannone was not penalised in some form after the Italian rider’s failed drug test.
A prohibited substance was detected in both of Iannone’s urine samples, which were gathered at the Malaysian Grand Prix last November.
Iannone was provisionally suspended, and will miss the pre-season tests at Sepang next week to front an FIM Disciplinary Court meeting in Switzerland on February 4.
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The former Suzuki and Ducati rider’s anti-doping test revealed the ‘Exogenous Anabolic Androgenic Steroid’ drostanolone.
Iannone was provisionally suspended from competition from December 17 last year until further notice.
Aprilia chief Massimo Rivola admitted should Iannone be found guilty, his time with Aprilia would come to an end.
“I would be surprised if he were not penalised because I believe that the FIM must comply with the WADA codes,” Rivola told Corriere della Sera.
“If he were to be [banned] for one to two years, it is clear that the [Aprilia] relationship would end.
“If, on the other hand, he were to take a reprimand or three months [suspension], it would mean recognising his innocence while still being sanctioned.”
Aprilia test rider Bradley Smith would likely race in 2020 in Iannone’s place should he be rubbed out. Meanwhile, Lorenzo Savadori will ride a 2019 bike in pre-season testing.
Rivola said Iannone had been under pressure to lose weight, with teammate Aleix Espargaro weighing “10kg less”.
Regardless, Iannone’s future with Aprilia – and future in the sport – remains up in the air, with a verdict post-meeting likely to take up to eight weeks to be delivered.
“Last year at the first test I put him on the scale and said: ‘Aleix Espargaro weighs 10kg less than you. You have to go on a diet, change your workout’,” said Rivola.
“Already by July he had lost 6.5kg by working hard. Why would he take an anabolic if he had to lose weight?”
Iannone’s lawyers will argue the failed test will be due to accidental consumption of the substance via contaminated meat consumed in Asia, something Rivola didn’t rule out.
They also believe the substance, which is better known for weight gains not losses, would make little sense for a rider who was striving to lose weight.
“The values of this substance … are very low. Perhaps there has been food contamination … Andrea is a ‘carnivore’, WADA itself says that such meat circulates in Asia,” said Rivola.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/moto-gp/motogp-2020-andrea-iannone-hearing-drugs-test-aprilia-motogp/news-story/9af05e5854a112ebde71b861d2e28e51
2020-01-30 06:07:00Z
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