• Rinaldo Nocentini, a former professional cyclist and holder of the yellow jersey in the 2009 Tour de France, has been sanctioned with a four year ban  for use/attempted use of a prohibited substance, Italy’s national anti-doping agency (NADO Italia) announced. “At 41, why would I have rested to prohibited practices?” Nocentini told TuttoBici, revealing that he plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). “They are not part of my working method or values”. It is understood that Nocentini’s sanction was based on analysis of his Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) after 2018’s Tour of Portugal, when he was 41. His results will be cancelled from 1 January 2018, and his four year ban will expire on 29 November 2024.

• The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) has admitted to a gap in testing running from April to June this year, in a statement announcing that it had met revised testing targets for 2020. “The summer was marked by a downtime for testing of two months”, said Mikhail Bukhanov (Михаил Буханов), RUSADA’s acting Director General. “However, since testing resumed in June, we have increased the number of samples from month to month”. RUSADA also announced that cross country skier Radik Gaziev (Радика Газиева) has been sanctioned with a two year ban from 19 May 2020; and that its search for a new Director General has begun, ending on 31 March 2021.

• Dr. Mark Schmidt has read a statement at trial revealing that he charged €5,000 per year for his services, reports AFP. The doctor, who is accused of being part of the Operation Aderlass blood doping network, highlighted that he always tried to protect the health of his athletes and argued that he didn’t realise he could face imprisonment for his actions. He disputed claims that he had charged Estonian athletes €11,500, arguing that this price was negotiated to treat three athletes. The trial has been extended until June 2021.

• Gerda Zehetleitner and her horse, Othello von Hochgrlit, have been provisionally suspended after the horse returned an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for caffeine and theophylline, the Austrian anti-doping rights commission (ÖADR) announced (click here to download). Both are considered controlled substances under the international equestrian federation (FEI) rules.

• Jeyson Arias Mosquera has reported an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for metabolites of Androstatrienedione, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has announced. The Venezuelan won Gold in the 94kg category at the 2018 South American Games.