The FIM has confirmed that Aprilia’s Andrea Iannone will miss the Sepang MotoGP test after the latest hearing of the doping case.
Iannone was banned from motorcycling activities on December 17, 2019, when the World Anti-Doping Association tested him positive after a sample was taken on November 3, 2019, during the Malaysian GP weekend at Sepang International Circuit.
Another sample was taken up which resulted in the same as Iannone was then requested to present his case to International Disciplinary Court on February 4, 2020. With the hearing ongoing, the decision may not come in time for the Italian to ride.
The first MotoGP pre-season test takes place on February 7-9 and therefore he will miss the test where Aprilia is to run the new RS-GP machine with Aleix Espargaro and Bradley Smith on duty. It remains to be seen if Lorenzo Savadori will take Iannone’s place or not.
It is being said that the lawyers of Iannone presented new reports, which the court has to give a thorough check to pass any judgement. For now, he remains suspended, as it remains to be seen if he gets an all-clear for February 22-24 test in Qatar.
The statement from the FIM read as:
Following a routine In-Competition doping test conducted at the round of the FIM Grand Prix World Championship held in Sepang, Malaysia on 3 November 2019, Mr Andrea Iannone tested positive for a WADA prohibited substance and is now provisionally suspended since 17 December 2019.
Mr Andrea Iannone requested analysis of his B sample which also confirmed the result of the A sample analysis. The hearing of the International Disciplinary Court (CDI) took place today at the FIM Headquarters in the presence of a panel of three judges of the CDI where Mr Iannone had the opportunity to present his case.
The proceeding is still ongoing until a CDI decision is rendered. Mr Andrea Iannone remains provisionally suspended until then and is therefore barred from participating in any motorcycling competition or related activity until further notice. Under the World Anti-Doping Code and the FIM Anti-Doping Code, the FIM is unable to provide any additional information at this time.
Here’s the 2020 Aprilia MotoGP machine on a test livery
Iannone surprised but relaxed by FIM suspension over failed drug test