Two riders from the Bardiani-CSF team have been revealed on the eve of the Giro d’Italia to have failed out-of-competition tests. The UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) announced yesterday that it had notified Italian riders Nicola Ruffoni and Stefano Pirazzi of an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) of GH-Releasing Peptides (GHRPs) in samples collected in the scope of out-of-competition controls on 25 and 26 April 2017 respectively.

Bruno and Roberto Reverberi, managers of the team, later declared in a press release: “We’re absolutely astounded by the news. We will wait the results of further analysis and we will reaffirm with determination the intention to protect the values of our sport project.”

GH-Releasing Peptides (GHRPs) are classified as “Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics” as per the World Anti-Doping Prohibited List 2017.

The findings constitute the first and second AAFs for riders from the team within a twelve-month period. This results in article 7.12.1 of the UCI Anti-Doping Rules providing for the suspension of the team from 15 days to 45 days being applied. The UCI will refer the matter to the Disciplinary Commission which will render a decision against the team in due course.

The team also announced that: “In case the “B” samples will confirm the violation, the team will immediately proceed with layoff, as provided for by internal regulations, signed by each riders at the beginning of the season, and will act to protect its image and their sponsors.”

The riders have the right to request and attend the analysis of the B sample. In accordance with UCI Anti-Doping Rules, the riders have been provisionally suspended until the adjudication of the respective affair.

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