Australian rider Rob Stannard facing anti-doping ban from 2018

Australian cycling has been rocked on the eve of the world championships, with an emerging road race rider provisionally banned for an anti-doping violation five years ago.

Australian cycling has been rocked with emerging rider Rob Stannard dumped from the world championships team after he was issued with an anti-doping violation from five years ago.

Just days after athletics star Peter Bol was sensational cleared of a doping allegation, another Australian Olympic sport is in the crosshairs with 24-year-old Stannard stood down just days before the world titles in Glasgow which start on Friday.

Stannard was due to line up alongside some of the Australia’s best riders like Caleb Ewan in Sunday’s road race, but was provisionally suspended by governing body UCI for allegations stemming from 2018 and 2019.

Stannard, who won the Belgian Tour de Wallonie in 2022 and finished 19th in the same race last month, previously rode for Australia’s World Tour team Mitchelton-Scott (now Jayco-AlUla) during that time and has vowed to fight the allegations.

“I have been notified by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) that it considers that I committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation more than four years ago,” Stannard said in a statement on Instagram.

“I have never intentionally or knowingly used a prohibited substance and will therefore ask for my case to be referred to the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal.

“I look forward to filing my defence and am confident of being exonerated and continuing my career.

“I will respect the confidentiality of the procedure and therefore will not be commenting further.”

AusCycling confirmed the provisional suspension via a statement late on Wednesday night.

“AusCycling was informed of the UCI’s provisional suspension of cyclist Rob Stannard earlier today,” AusCycling said in a statement.

“Regrettably, the provisional suspension for an Anti-Doping Rule Violation means that Mr Stannard will be unable to compete in the World Championships in Glasgow.

“We note that Mr Stannard rigorously rejects the stated reasons for the provisional suspension and has signalled his intention to appeal.

“AusCycling will continue to support Mr Stannard and will provide the UCI with whatever assistance it needs to swiftly resolve the matter.

“We will be making no further comment at this time.”