MotoGP, Iannone: “Positive for cocaine and that's OK, but I’m banned for 4 years”

Andrea Iannone does not agree. The four-year ban he received after being sentenced by the CAS continues to weigh heavily on his shoulders and the Italian must stay far from the MotoGP tracks, and his training, for a long time to come.

And now, to add to his disappointment, the WADA has published a new regulation.

The new ruling

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Via his social channels, Iannone published a title from the Italian newspaper “Libero” that reads: “Doping, sport and cocaine, a disturbing turn: open season for the white powder?”

The article specifies that “from 1 January, any athlete testing positive for cocaine (but also heroine, ecstasy and cannabis) risks a three-month ban. Or even just one month if they show remorse and choose to take part in a recovery programme”.

A dramatic turnaround if we consider that the WADA, up until now, was banning athletes who test positive for cocaine for up to 4 years. It should be highlighted that this new ruling will be applied in cases where the substance is used outside of competition, so not as a way to improve performance.

“I don’t agree”

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Andrea Iannone’s reaction was immediate: “I’m increasingly incredulous – he writes on social media – positive for cocaine and it’s all OK, while innocent athletes are banned for 4 years! Well done...”.

It was clear that the rider, who tested positive for Drostanolone as a result of food contamination and claims he is innocent despite having been banned for four years, would not take news of this new regulation lightly. Particularly when his future as a MotoGP rider is in the balance, a career that appears seriously compromised as things stand.

Translated by Heather Watson

MotoGP, Iannone after the sentencing: “They’ve broken my heart, but I won’t give up”