Italian cyclist Andrea Piccolo suspected of transporting human growth hormone

Andrea Piccolo has been fired by the American 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 that Piccolo’s contract had been terminated “with immediate effect”, EF Pro Cycling added that the Italian “was internally suspended without pay in March after taking a sleeping pill not approved by the team , although legal.”

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

Piccolo crashed out of the Giro on stage 19, but won the combativeness prize on stage two. He is widely regarded as one of cycling’s rising stars. Piccolo wore the red leader’s jersey for one day in the Vuelta a España last year and was Italian and European junior time trial champion before turning professional.

EF Pro Cycling added that they will “cooperate fully with any investigation into this matter, and we encourage Andrea to be open and honest with anti-doping authorities.” This year the team will participate in the Tour de France, which starts on Saturday, June 29 in Florence.