EF has decided to “terminate Andrea Piccolo’s contract with immediate effect”. The note published last night on social media also states that “Piccolo had already been suspended internally by the team in March, without being paid, for having taken a sleeping pill that was not approved by the internal regulations, although legal. The team had reported to the UCI, but due to legal reasons regarding the UCI standard of the rider’s contract, it was not possible at the time to terminate the contract.” Suspended, reinstated and taken to the Giro d’Italia (often on the run, fourth in Rapolano Terme, but forced to withdraw with two stages to go due to a fall).
“On June 21 – we read in the EF note – Piccolo was stopped by the Italian authorities from entering the country on suspicion of transporting human growth hormone. We will cooperate fully with any investigation into the matter, and we encourage Andrea to do the same and to be open and honest with the anti-doping authorities.”
The 23-year-old cyclist from Lombardy, red jersey for one day at the 2023 Vuelta, now risks a long disqualification for possession and trafficking of doping substances. On Sunday 23rd he should have started the Italian Championship in Florence.
