Cannondale rider Stefano Agostini has been handed a suspension from competition and could incur a lengthy ban from the sport after he returned a positive A Sample.
The 24 year old rider, who turned pro with Cannondale in 2012, was given an out of competition test on August 21st. That urine sample was then sent to the WADA accredited laboratory in Cologne, where traces of clostebol were found.
The substance is a synthetic anabolic androgenic steroid related to the natural hormone testosterone. It was used in the past by athletes from East Germany, and is categorised as a prohibited s1 anabolic agent by WADA.
“The provisional suspension of Mr. Agostini remains in force until a hearing panel convened by the Italian Cycling Federation determines whether he has committed an anti-doping rule violation under Article 21 of the UCI Anti-Doping Rules,” stated the UCI in a press release today.
Agostini won the Italian under 23 championships in 2010 and then went on to take two stages, the mountains classification and third overall in the Baby Giro in 2011.
He has had a modest two years with the Cannondale team, although he took eleventh in both the Rund um den Finanzplatz Eschborn-Frankfurt and the Giro della Toscana in 2012 and this year was sixth and tenth on stages of the Tour of Austria.
His Cannondale team has not yet commented on the matter, but the Italian will automatically lose his contract if he is suspended.