Danish rider needs to look for new team after he returns next year
American WorldTour team Garmin-Sharp has announced that Alex Rasmussen is no longer a rider with the squad, with the Dane losing his place on the team after being handed a partially-backdated 18 month suspension today.
“We have followed the lead of the authorities throughout this process,” said the team in a statement just released. “Although the missed whereabouts tests occurred on Alex’s previous team, in light of the CAS verdict, Alex will no longer be with Slipstream Sports.”
Rasmussen committed three whereabouts violations between February 1st 2010 and April 28th 2011, which under WADA rules can result in a lengthy ban. He was dropped by the HTC Highroad team last September when it got word of the violations, but had already signed a contract with Slipstream Sports, owners of the Garmin-Sharp team for 2012.
The team initially said that he would no longer have a place on the squad but had to change its position after the Anti-Doping Committee of the Danish National Olympic Committee cleared him on on November 17th.
It did so because of what it said was a considerable delay on the UCI’s part in notifying the rider of the three violations.
The UCI appealed this to CAS, which has now sided with the governing body.
Rasmussen has already pledged to return to the sport, saying earlier today that he would not retire. He will not be able to compete again until April 2013.
The decision of the Garmin-Sharp team to drop him is not surprising. Under UCI rules, riders are no longer part of a pro team once a suspension is handed down.
Also see: Rasmussen pledges not to retire after being given 18 month ban over whereabouts violations