Bissell Pro Cycling has removed Kirk O’Bee from the team today, immediately after learning that the rider has violated its no-tolerance policy agreed to under his contract. The rider’s actions are an isolated incident that occurred independently and without the knowledge of both team management and his teammates. Bissell and each of its team sponsors are committed to fair competition, and support efforts for an end to performance-enhancing drugs in the sport of cycling through the enforcement of a strict zero-tolerance policy.
“I deeply regret that a mistake I made as an individual will reflect poorly on the entire sport,” said O’Bee in a statement acknowledging his contract violation. “I’d especially like to apologize to my teammates and to my sponsors, and hope that my actions will not damage their good names.”
O’Bee’s termination from BISSELL will not affect the team’s race schedule for the remainder of the year or any other day-to-day team operations.
Separately from BISSELL, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) are working with O’Bee to resolve his violation, and the team can make no further comments on this private matter.