Bad news in professional cycling. The shadow of doping is once again hanging over the sport, in particular over the BMX discipline. This summer, UCI has already informed the Italian BMX champion Martti Sciortino of an adverse finding and have thus provisionally suspended the rider. Now, the UCI has made official a sanction of 18 months to the Italian.
In the official statement of the sanction, cycling's governing body explains that Sciortino was found to have traces of chlorodehydromethyltestosterone and stanozolol, two substances banned under the anti-doping regulations, in a sample taken on May 24, 2025 at the BMX Swiss Challenge Cup. The sanction is therefore set until December 2026.
Below, you can read the full UCI press release:
"The International Cycling Union (UCI) announces that Italian cyclist Martti Sciortino has been sanctioned with an 18-month suspension following an anti-doping rule violation for the presence of the metabolite of dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (DHCMT) as well as metabolites of stanozolol (stanozolol)* in a sample collected during the BMX Swiss Challenge Cup on May 24, 2025."
"In accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) and the UCI Anti-Doping Regulations (UCI ADR), the suspension period began on June 20, 2025 and will be in effect until December 19, 2026."
"The case has been resolved by acceptance of the consequences provided for in the Code and the UCI ADR. The resolution is subject to appeal by the Italian National Anti-Doping Organization and the World Anti-Doping Agency."
"The UCI will not comment further."
"The UCI delegated its anti-doping program to the International Testing Agency (ITA) in January 2021, retaining results management and the prosecution of anti-doping rule violations. Since then, clean cycling initiatives have been led by the ITA Cycling Unit, specifically dedicated to all cycling disciplines. The UCI and the ITA are linked by a service agreement that guarantees the ITA's independence."
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- I had no idea about that either.
santiagobenites10-11-2026 - great analysis thanks! appreciate you posting this. I didn't realize CX had a different standard for deviation. this is even more egregious it seems.mij10-11-2026
- As he isn't currently with Red Bull, I guess if he want to race for one more year he needs to find a team. He's 37 so this will be his last year I would guess, unless he wants to race for almost nothing like Froome did.awp10-11-2026
- I think some are making much ado about nothing. Even though Jonas is getting older, before his crash in the Tour, he looked like a solid 2nd all the way home. No one can really climb with Tadej until this year, Eric Mas showed himself which I think was a one off year for him and Paul Seixas has been able to be pretty close to him. Whatever stage race Jonas enters as long as Tadej is not there he is a favorite to win.awp10-11-2026
- Giro or not Giro, he won't win the Tour!MajorPayne10-11-2026
- Very true.awp10-11-2026
- Ciccone had a very strong end of season. Consistently attacking and livening up races. Hope he makes that last leap in progress and starts notching some significant wins. Great rider to watch.Occam10-11-2026
- Me too!!!!!Occam10-11-2026
- they can sign any 100 of top riders today but Pogi will win over Remco any time at the TDF unless something goes wrongabstractengineer10-11-2026
- the time for a GC rider to retire is when they cannot win stages, or have a significant level drop like from winner/podium into top 5/10 consistently. Roglic is still competitive and Froome raced even though he became pack fodder.abstractengineer10-11-2026
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