Australian cyclist Robert Stannard says he feels as if he has got his life back after signing for the Bahrain Victorious team following a year being sidelined over a doping offence.
The 25-year-old will make his return at next month’s Tour of Britain after accepting the governing body UCI’s four-year back-dated suspension for "unexplained" abnormal values on his Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) in 2018 and 2019
Stannard, who continues to protest his innocence, has been signed by the Belgian-based team, which also features top Australian rider Jack Haig.
“It's awesome to be able to ride my bike again, to be able to continue my cycling career," Stannard said in a Bahrain Victorious press release.
"I had to make a hard choice: accept the ruling and be able to do the sport I love again, or fight to clear my name.
“I believe I've made the wisest choice. I hope to be able to do both in the long run, but for now, I am seizing with both hands the opportunity to race again!
"I feel like I've got my life back, in a way. I can't wait to return to racing, and I'm so grateful to have been given this opportunity by Bahrain."
The career of Sydneysider Stannard, who began his career with Australian team Mitchelton-Scott in 2018, had been progressing impressively when the historical anti-doping rule violation was announced last August while he was riding for Alpecin-Deceuninck.
He was suspended for "use of prohibited Methods and/or prohibited substances” but remains adamant he never intentionally used prohibited substances.
"Athletes with ABP violations have not returned positive blood or urine tests for anything," Stannard said.
“They alleged that it could only have been caused by 'illegal means', but throughout the entire process, provided no evidence of any wrongdoing.
“No evidence of doping is collected or required for them to reach this judgement.
"I hope the Tribunal ruling will be published in the future, and then people will be able to read the details and make up their own minds. But it's certainly changed my perspective on things, on cycling, and life as a whole.”
Stannard has received a vote of support from Vladimir Miholjevic, the Bahrain Victorious performance manager.
"We are happy to have Robert joining us. Robert went through a difficult period, with a lot of confusion, but we support him, and through our medical teams' analysis we could not conclude any wrongdoing," Miholjevic said.
"He has been cleared to race in the professional peloton again, and is a talented rider who we think has great potential.”
