Robert Stannard explains for the first time about his long doping ban, just before his comeback

For the first time since Robert Stannard was banned for four years for a doping violation, the Australian has responded to the ruling. Stannard is doing so just over a week before he returns to the peloton at the Tour of Britain on September 1, with the Bahrain Victorious team signing him until the end of 2024. “I feel like I’ve got my life back,” says Stannard.

In August 2023, Stannard, then a rider at Alpecin Dessonninck, was suddenly provisionally suspended for doping violations in 2018 and 2019. He had already stated that he had “never used any prohibited substance intentionally or knowingly”. Stannard went to the UCI anti-doping tribunal to defend his case and demanded acquittal.

It was later announced this summer that the UCI had imposed a four-year ban on Stannard, albeit backdated from 17 August 2018 to 17 August 2022. This was for ‘a breach of the anti-doping regulations (during his time at Mitchelton-Scott, ed.) by the use of a prohibited substance or prohibited method, as a result of the deviation of the values ​​in his biological passport.’ Stannard appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but now accepts his sanction.

Robert Stannard Statement
“The athletes who violated the biological passport never returned a positive test,” Stannard begins his statement in a press release for Bahrain Victorious. “They claimed that it could only have been caused by illegal means, but they presented no evidence of any wrongdoing throughout the trial. No evidence of doping was collected or requested to make this decision.”

I hope the court ruling will be published in the future so people can read the details and form their own opinions. But it has certainly changed my perspective on things, on cycling and life in general. But above all, I am grateful for the support I have received from my loved ones, family and friends. They have helped me get through this and I think I have probably gained something much bigger from it all.

Stannard is delighted to be able to ride again after the UCI ruling. “It’s great to be able to continue my cycling career. I had to make a tough choice: accept the ruling and go back to the sport I love, or fight to clear my name. I think I made the wiser choice,” he said. Australian“I hope I can clear my name in the long run, but for now I will seize the opportunity to race again with both hands.”

I have defended myself with logical explanations and scientific evidence, but it is disappointing that this has not been taken into account in the current system. Under strict liability rules, you are responsible even if you are not at fault. “The truth is that I just enjoy racing with my team-mates and doing everything I can to win, and after a year where my body has had complete rest and repair, I hope I can do that for Bahrain Victorious.”

Bahrain Victory Statement
“We are delighted to have Robert join us,” said Vladimir Miholjevic, Bahrain Victorious Team Manager. “Robert has been through a difficult period, with a lot of confusion, but we support him. Through our medical team’s analysis, we have not been able to identify any errors. He has been cleared to ride in the peloton again and is a talented rider who we believe still has a lot of potential.