Andrea Iannone was arrested 18 months by the Fim for doping, Aprilia announced, the team with which he rides in MotoGp. The Abruzzese driver, found positive on 3 November 2019 during the Malaysian GP, was recognized for an accidental, culpable and painless intake of drostanolone (victim of food contamination). The disqualification goes from 17 December 2019 to 16 June 2021. Now Iannone will resort to the TAS. A note from the FIM recalls that "following a routine doping test carried out at the Sepang Grand Prix, Malaysia, on November 3, 2019, Andrea Iannone tested positive for the metabolite Drostanolone 2α-methyl-5α-androstane-3α- ol-17-one, substance banned by WADA under the heading 'anabolic agents, 1. Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS), a. exogenous AAS' ". Reason why Iannone was "temporarily suspended by the FIM from 17 December 2019". On 4 February 2020, a hearing was held in Mies (Switzerland) before the Disciplinary Court. At the end it was decided to suspend the hearing pending the additional and final written observations of the parties (or 28 February 2020). An appeal against the decision, recalls the note, can be filed before the Arbitral Tribunal for Sport (TAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, within 21 days from the date of receipt.
Iannone: "Recognized innocence, it could have been worse" - "My innocence has been recognized, it could have been worse. Now we can only see the positive aspect". Andrea Iannone, to Sky Sport, commented on the 18-month suspension imposed on him by Fim for doping, but with the recognition of the accidental food intake of prohibited substance. "This period was the most difficult of my life. It was difficult to accept - added the Abruzzese driver - I happened to think of everything, but really everything. Every day I aimed to prove 100% my innocence to get back on the bike and take what I want. "