French skilled bike owner Franck Bonnamour has been dismissed by his staff, Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale, after he was provisionally suspended final month resulting from “unexplained abnormalities” in his anti-doping document.
Final month, Bonnamour was suspended by the UCI from competitors resulting from “unexplained abnormalities” in his organic passport. His contract has now been terminated, however he denies wrongdoing.
“On February 5, 2024, the staff was knowledgeable by the UCI of the investigation and provisional suspension of Franck Bonnamour resulting from a violation of anti-doping guidelines,” a spokesperson for the staff stated on Tuesday night. “This suspension follows checks carried out earlier than his arrival within the staff on January 1, 2023.
“The staff was pressured to terminate Franck Bonnamour’s employment contract early. Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Workforce advocates the follow of biking according to robust moral guidelines.”
In a brief assertion shared in the beginning of February, the UCI, biking’s governing physique, wrote: “The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) informs that French rider Franck Bonnamour has been provisionally suspended in accordance with the UCI Anti-Doping Guidelines resulting from unexplained abnormalities in his Organic Passport.”
All WorldTour and ProTour riders have a organic passport, an digital document of all of their doping assessments. The measure was launched in 2008 and is run by an impartial entity, the Worldwide Testing Company (ITA), who full blood and urine assessments out and in of competitors.
Decathlon-AG2R have insisted that the anti-doping case dates to earlier than he joined the staff in January 2023. The Frenchman beforehand rode for B&B Accommodations-KTM in 2021 and 2022.
A preferred breakaway determine on the Tour de France, incomes him the Tremendous Combatif title in 2021, Bonnamour has received one race in his decade-long profession, the minor French occasion La Polynormande, whereas using for B&B in 2022. He was beforehand a part of Arkéa Samsic’s squad, having turned professional with the staff as a trainee in 2015.
In an announcement on social media on Tuesday night, Bonnamour insisted that he had by no means used “blood manipulation” or doping merchandise.
“I’ve all the time achieved my job respecting the principles that the UCI imposes on me,” he wrote.
“I’ve all the time complied, after all, with the quite a few anti-doping controls that this sport has required of me for years. I’ve by no means used prohibited merchandise or any blood manipulation.
“With the assistance of my attorneys and scientists, we’re engaged on my defence. I’ve all the time been an trustworthy, upright and clear rider and due to this fact can’t be accused of dishonest.”
