Michele Gazzoli receives one-year ban for Anti-Doping violation

Michele Gazzoli has been suspended for violating the doping rules. UCI informed since it was a non-intentional infringement, he will be suspended for one year only.

Reacting to UCI’s decision Astana Qazaqstan has terminated the contract with Gazzoli. "Astana Qazaqstan Team, adhering to the zero-tolerance policy, has decided to terminate the contract with Michele Gazzoli with immediate effect. Astana Qazaqstan Team categorically emphasizes that the team has nothing to do with this unfortunate violation of the anti-doping rule by the rider Michele Gazzoli," read the statement by the team.

On 17 February, Gazzoli had to take a test during the Volta ao Alargve at the ITA, which came back positive. The UCI has been lenient in this case as it was classified as an unintentional breach of the anti-doping rule, and therefore the punishment was limited to one year. Gazzoli would not be allowed to race between 10 August 2022 and 9 August 2023.