With his four-year ban for an anti-doping rule violation now complete, Robert Stannard has signed with Bahrain Victorious and will return to racing in the coming weeks.
In August 2023 Stannard was informed by the UCI that he had committed the anti-doping rule violation “Use of a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method” after abnormalities were discovered in his biological passport between 2018 and 2019.
In June 2024, the UCI then announced that the Australian had been given a four-year ban backdated to the time of the abnormalities, with Stannard’s period of ineligibility spanning from August 17, 2018 to August 16, 2022. He was also given a fine valued at 70% of his average annual salary in 2018 and 2019 and stripped of his results during the period of ineligibility, including his overall victory at the 2022 Tour de Wallonie.
Now, with his ban served, Stannard is free to return to competition. He has joined Bahrain Victorious with immediate effect, on a contract that lasts until the end of 2025.
“It’s awesome to be able to ride my bike again, to be able to continue my cycling career,” the 25-year-old said in a Bahrain Victorious announcement about his signing. “I had to make a hard choice: accept the ruling and be able to do the sport I love again, or fight to clear my name. I believe I’ve made the wisest choice. I hope to be able to do both in the long run, but for now, I am seizing with both hands the opportunity to race again!”
Stannard rose through the ranks with the Mitchelton-Scott Continental team before joining the setup’s WorldTour outfit from 2019 through 2021. In 2022 he joined Alpecin-Fenix for two seasons, and it was midway through his second season there that the UCI informed Stannard of his anti-doping rule violation.
According to the Bahrain Victorious press release announcing Stannard’s signing, “it has never been specified whether [Stannard] is accused of using a prohibited substance or a prohibited method.” The team also claims that Stannard was “able to provide explanations for what they [the UCI] had identified as ‘abnormal values.’”
“Athletes with [biological passport] violations have not returned positive blood or urine tests for anything,” Stannard added. “They alleged that it could only have been caused by ‘illegal means’, but throughout the entire process, provided no evidence of any wrongdoing. No evidence of doping is collected or required for them to reach this judgment.
“I defended myself with logical explanations and scientific evidence, but disappointingly under the current system those things were not taken into consideration (under strict liability rules you are responsible even if not guilty). I hope the Tribunal ruling will be published in the future, and then people will be able to read the details and make up their own minds.
“The truth is I just really love racing with teammates and going all out for wins, and after a year in which my body has had a complete rest and repaired itself, I hope I can do that for Bahrain Victorious.”
Stannard joining Bahrain Victorious in particular has raised some eyebrows. To some, the team has a reputation for signing individuals with question marks over their past actions, including Antonio Tiberi who joined Bahrain Victorious last year after being fired from Trek-Segafredo for shooting and killing a cat.
However, Bahrain Victorious’ performance manager, Vladimir Miholjevič, offered words of support for his new rider.
“We are happy to have Robert joining us,” he said. “Robert went through a difficult period, with a lot of confusion, but we support him, and through our medical team’s analysis we could not conclude any wrongdoing. He has been cleared to race in the professional peloton again, and is a talented rider who we think has great potential.”
Stannard’s first race with Bahrain Victorious will be the Tour of Britain which starts September 3 and spans six stages. It will be Stannard’s first race since the Tour de Wallonie in July 2023.
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