Australian rider Robert Stannard competes in the fourth stage of the 75th edition of the Criterium du Dauphine cycling race individual time trial. GETTY IMAGES

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has issued a statement in response to a press release from Bahrain Victorious in which the team announced the recruitment of Australian rider Robert Stannard.

Bahrain Victorious have this week announced the signing of the Australian rider Robert Stannard. The Australian rider recently received a four-year, post-dated suspension for a doping violation in 2018 and 2019 and received a fine corresponding to 70% of his average annual salary at the time of the ADRV.

Though three blood samples were flagged on Stannard's biological passport, the Australian has maintained that he never knowingly took a prohibited substance or used a prohibited method.

Disregarding the case and stating that their medical team "could not conclude any wrongdoing" Bahrain Victorious signed the rider and announced via a now-deleted post that "it has never been specified whether the rider is accused of using a prohibited substance or a prohibited method."

UCI's statement back in June of this was considered clearcut. It read "The Tribunal found that Robert Stannard committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) of use of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method due to unexplained abnormalities in his Biological Passport in 2018 and 2019."



With Bahrain Victorious now announcing the Australian's registration with immediate effect, the UCI has released another statement doubling down on the situation.

"Robert Stannard had the opportunity to provide supporting written explanations and expert evidence, both in writing and during a hearing. The Tribunal rejected the rider’s explanations and held that he used a prohibited substance and/or method as evidenced by his Biological Passport," it reads. 

"In accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and the UCI Anti-Doping Rules (UCI ADR), a four-year period of suspension was imposed. However, the start of the period of ineligibility was anticipated by the Tribunal in view of delays in the proceedings not attributable to the rider or the UCI."

The UCI also called out the comments made by Bahrain Victoriou calling them "clearly incorrect and misleading."

"It is unfortunate that the UCI is put in a situation to correct statements by a UCI WorldTeam related to a matter as important as the fight against doping. As the Tribunal's decision concerning Mr Stannard is available on the UCI website, the UCI will not comment further on the matter," the statement concluded.