Italian cyclist Andrea Piccolo suspected of transporting human growth hormone

Andrea Piccolo has been sacked by US-based team EF Education-EasyPost Pro Cycling. The 23-year-old was stopped by Italian authorities on suspicion of transporting human growth hormone while trying to enter his home country.

In a statement confirming Piccolo’s contract had been terminated, “effective immediately,” EF Pro Cycling added that the Italian was “suspended internally without pay in March, after taking a sleeping aid that was not approved by the team, though legal.”

EF Pro Cycling said they “reported the usage to the UCI immediately, but due to legal reasons surrounding the UCI standard rider contract, we were unable to terminate his contract at the time. After serving his suspension, [Piccolo] returned to competition at the Giro d’Italia.”

Piccolo crashed out of the Giro on stage 19, but won the combativity award on stage two. He is widely considered to be one of cycling’s up-and-coming stars. Piccolo wore the leader’s red jersey for one day at the Vuelta a España last year, and was a junior Italian and European time-trial champion before turning professional.

EF Pro Cycling added that they “will cooperate fully with any investigation into the matter, and we encourage Andrea to be open and truthful with anti-doping authorities.” The team will take part in this year’s Tour de France, which begins in Florence on Saturday 29 June.