The Astana Kazakstan Development Team has fired 22-year-old Kazakhstan rider Ilkhan Dostyev after he tested positive for the blood booster Sera.

Dostyev had won a stage and finished second overall at the prestigious Giro Ciclistico della Valle d'Aosta in July, but was tested by anti-doping authorities on July 30, apparently out of competition.

He then won the Turul Romaniei stage race in Romania in August and competed in the Tour of Hainan in China as part of the Astana Kazakstan World Tour team. In the spring, he finished second overall at the Tour de Rwanda behind Britain's Joe Blackmore (Israel Premier Tech).

On September 9, Dostieff's name was added to the UCI's list of suspended licensees and he tested positive for CERA. Dosteev will now face an anti-doping tribunal and a four-year license suspension.

Persistent erythropoietin receptor activator (CERA) is the generic name for third-generation erythropoiesis stimulating agents with actions similar to EPO, which have been widely used as blood doping agents since the 1990s.

Riccardo Ricco tested positive for CERA at the 2008 Tour de France, and others tested positive years later; the blood-increasing effects of CERA can theoretically be confirmed by the WADA Athlete Biological Passport longitudinal blood test.

According to the Astana Kazakstan team, Dostyev subsequently admitted to using the banned substance and provided an explanation to the team and the UCI. He was then immediately suspended and his contract terminated.

The Astana Kazakstan Development team denied any responsibility.

“This news was a shock and disappointment for us. We trusted Ilkhan Dostyev as the leader of our team and had high expectations for him, which were completely shattered,” said director Alexander Shushemoyin.

“I can assure you that the Astana Kazakstan Development team had nothing to do with this incident. Our team adheres to a “zero tolerance” policy and we are continuously working with our athletes and doing our best to make them understand not only the consequences of doping use, but also the absurdity of attempting to violate anti-doping rules."

“As a result of Dostyev's admission of anti-doping violations, the rider has been suspended from racing and his contract has been terminated immediately. We are now cooperating fully and openly with all relevant authorities to clarify the details of what happened.”