A doping case involving Australian Robert Stannard dating back to 2018 finally reached a verdict, and the UCI announced on Tuesday that the 25-year-old has been given a four-year suspension of the date back.

The UCI Anti・Doping Tribunal has set the start date for Stannard's suspension to 2018/8/17.This was the day the anomaly was first detected on his athlete's biological passport (ABP), allowing the Australian to qualify for the competition again with immediate effect. He currently does not have a team after his contract with Alpecin-Deceuninck ends in 2023.

"The Court found that Robert Stannard had committed an anti・doping rule violation (ADRV) of the use of prohibited substances or prohibited methods due to unexplained anomalies in his biological passport 2018 and 2019," the UCI press release said.

"As a result, the Court has imposed on the rider a 4-year period of suspension as well as a monetary fine corresponding to 70% of his average annual salary in 2018 and 2019.

Stannard raced with the Mitchelton-Scott Continental Team in 2018 and then raced as a trainee on the World Tour team. He won several races, including the U・23 Giro d'Italia and the U・23 Il Piccolo Lombardy.

He signed with the Mitchelton-Scott WorldTour team in 2019 and then moved to Alpecin-Deceuninck after racing with them until 2021. News of his doping case surfaced on May 8 last year.

Stannard denied wrongdoing but has not competed since the notice, stating, "My case is UCI

becauseI have never intentionally or knowingly used a prohibited substance" "I look forward to filing my defense and am exonerated and confident in continuing my career."