Aprilia MotoGP rider Andrea Iannone has been provisionally suspended from competition after testing positive for anabolic steroids.
According to MotoGP's governing body, FIM, the Italian provided a sample during the Malaysian Grand Prix which tested positive for a banned substance under WADA rules.
FIM has therefore handed the 30-year-old a provisional ban until a further hearing and pending an appeal.
"The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) has advised Italian Grand Prix rider Andrea Iannone that he is provisionally suspended pursuant to Article 7.9.1 of the 2019 FIM Anti-doping Code (CAD)," the FIM statement read.
"The decision to provisionally suspend Mr Andrea Iannone was mandatory following the receipt of a report from the WADA accredited laboratory in Kreischa b. Dresden (Germany) indicating an Adverse Analytical Finding of a non-specified substance under Section 1.1.a) Exogenous Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) of the 2019 Prohibited List, in a urine sample collected from him at an in-competition test carried out by the FIM at the round of the FIM Grand Prix World Championship held in Sepang, Malaysia on 3 November 2019.
"Mr Andrea Iannone has the right to request and attend the analysis of his B sample.
"Mr Andrea Iannone is provisionally suspended with effect from 17 December 2019. He is therefore barred from participating in any motorcycling competition or activity until further notice. Under Article 7.9.3.2 CAD, Mr Iannone may request lifting of his provisional suspension.
"Under the World Anti-Doping Code and the FIM Anti-Doping Code, the FIM is unable to provide any additional information at this time."
There hasn't been a case of doping in motorcycle racing since 2012 when Moto2 rider Anthony West was suspended for testing positive for methylhexanamine.
