Italian riders Nicola Ruffoni and Stefano Pirazzi miss Giro d'Italia after failing doping tests
Friday 5 May 2017 07:01, UK
Italian duo Nicola Ruffoni and Stefano Pirazzi have been suspended after returning positive out-of-competition doping tests and will miss the Giro d'Italia
The Bardiani CSF riders can request the analysis of their B samples but have been provisionally suspended by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
"The UCI announces that it has notified Italian riders Nicola Ruffoni and Stefano Pirazzi of an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) of GH-Releasing Peptides (GHRPs) in samples collected in the scope of out-of-competition controls on April 25 and 26, 2017 respectively," read a UCI statement.
"In accordance with UCI Anti-Doping Rules, the riders have been provisionally suspended until the adjudication of the respective affair.
"The UCI will refer the matter to the Disciplinary Commission which will render a decision against the team in due course."
Giro bosses confirmed they would honour the suspensions in a short statement.
"The management of Giro d'Italia, following the suspension of the two runners Nicola Ruffoni and Stefano Pirazzi Bardiani of CSF by the UCI, firmly reconfirms its support to the CADF (Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation) UCI in the fight against doping in all its forms and methods," read the statement.
"Even if the counter-analysis should give a positive result, the same direction and RCS Sport reserve to protect in the appropriate for the image and good name of the Giro d'Italia."
