Hours after the UCI announced that the former Italian under 23 champion Stefano Agostini's had returned a positive A sample, his Cannondale team has confirmed that it has already fired the rider.
The young rider underwent an out of competition test on August 21st, with the urine sample being analysed by the WADA accredited laboratory in Cologne.
The result of that examination showed traces of clostebol, a banned synthetic anabolic androgenic steroid related to the natural hormone testosterone.
Agostini told Tuttobici that the product entered his system after his mother gave him the Trofodermin cream to treat a saddle sore he experienced after the Tour of Utah.
He said that he then was subjected to an out of competition test and before the results came back, he said that he told the team doctor Roberto Corsetti that he had used the cream. He was told that it contained a banned substance and after his positive test, he was fired by the team.
“Unfortunately, I can do little except prove that I acted in good faith. Obviously I won’t ask for a counter analysis [B sample] because I know that there was Clostebol in my urine and I have explained how it happened.”
He apologised to his Cannondale squad and insisted that he had not intended to do anything wrong. “I am simply a fool, not a cheat,” he said.
Team manager Roberto Amadio said in a statement this evening that he wasn't pleased. “The explanation provided to us by Agostini demonstrated complete carelessness, something unacceptable from a professional rider,” he stated, “Our antidoping and prevention policy is clear. Violation of that policy is not permitted and is dealt with firmly.”
It added that it had decided to fire him on August 23rd, after he had admitted using the banned product.
The squad insisted that his actions broke internal policy of the team. “This behaviour violates current antidoping rules and goes against the rules provided by the team's medical staff during the opening meeting of the season,” it said. “The Italian Cycling Federation has been informed of the termination.”