Bardiani-CSF banned from racing for 30 days after two riders fail drugs tests

Italian team Bardiani-CSF has been banned from racing for 30 days after two of its riders tested positive for a banned growth hormone in late April.

News that Stefano Pirazzi and Nicola Ruffoni had failed out-of-competition anti-doping controls broke on the eve of the Giro d’Italia, when both riders had already been introduced to fans during the team presentation.

The UCI Professional Continental team confirmed last month that both riders would be sacked after their B samples also tested positive. They have yet to be sanctioned for the anti-doping rule violations.

> Bardiani-CSF confirms Pirazzi and Ruffoni to be sacked after positive tests

Today, the UCI confirmed that the team had been suspended for 30 days, in line with its anti-doping rules that apply when two riders from one team fail an anti-doping control within a 12-month period.

In a statement, world cycling’s governing body said:

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announces that the Disciplinary Commission has decided to suspend the UCI Professional Continental Team Bardiani CSF for a period of 30 days from 14th June to 14th July 2017 in accordance with article 7.12.1 of the UCI Anti-Doping Rules (ADR) providing for a “Team Suspension”.

For the duration of its suspension, the Team Bardiani CSF is suspended from participating in any international event.

The UCI will not make any further comment on the case.

The timing of the ban, with the focus of the  sport in Europe in the coming weeks on national championships then the Tour de France,  is perhaps fortuitous for Bardiani-CSF and its riders who faced missing races as a result of the actions of their former team mates.

Following the team’s participation in the Giro d’Italia last month, its racing calendar is clear during June other than the Italian national road championships.

But since the ban applies to international events, its riders will not be banned from riding in the time trial or road race there.

Its only international race in the first half of July – and therefore the only one it will miss – is the Tour of Austria.

Bardiani-CSF is due to resume racing at the one day race the Trofeo Matteotti, based in Pescara on Italy’s Adriatic coast, on 16 July.