Australian cyclist Robert Stannard has been suspended for four years due to discrepancies in his Athlete Biological Passport (ABP).
Cycling’s governing body, the UCI, has backdated the 25-year-old’s suspension to August 17, 2018, when the first deviation was identified, taking into account the delay with which the rider’s deviations were communicated to them.
Stannard was also fined 70% of his salary in 2018 and 2019.
An ABP is an individual electronic record for professional athletes that tracks biomarkers throughout their career. If these markers change dramatically, officials are alerted that the athlete may be doping.
Stannard, who is not currently under contract with a team, can appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Last year he previously competed for the World Tour team Alpecin-Deceuninck – home to world champion Mathieu van der Poel and the sport’s best sprinter Jasper Philipsen.
