Russian rider Nikita Novikov is facing an uncertain future in the sport after the UCI announced that he had returned a positive A sample for the banned substance Hydroxy-ostarine / O Dephenyl-ostarine. The 23 year old former Tour of Slovakia winner was subjected to an out of competition test on May 17th and has now been given a provisional suspension after the result was determined.
He has the right to ask for a B sample analysis, and his case will be assessed by a hearing panel of the Russian Cycling Federation.
The former Itera rider was signed by the Vacansoleil DCM team after his strong 2011 season. Results such as that Slovakian victory plus a win in the Tour des Pays de Savoie attracted them to the climber, but the squad has said now that it is reeling after the news of his positive test.
“At the end of 2011 we hired this young talent for two years,” said the general manager Daan Luijkx. “Since that time he didn’t manage to reach his old level in our environment despite all the efforts of our team. It needs no clarification that as a team we are devastated by this.
“As a team you try to give your riders a safe environment with good coaching and staff and that makes it very disappointing when a rider does something wrong, like it appears this is the case now. When I talked to the rider last night, after the UCI informed us, he said he had no idea how the substance got in his body.”
The team has said that he will be fired if his B sample is also positive, or if he declines that second analysis.
“I strongly believe the sport is on his way up,” Luijkx continued. “I am sorry for the sport that this happens but it is good that possible breaches of the rules are traced.”