At Aprilia, we take the positive doping test procedure which concerns its current official rider Andrea Iannone very seriously. For the moment, it is on stand-by and the matter will only resume its course after analysis of the second sample. It will be for January 7th. Even if Joe the Maniac says he is calm, in Noale, we are putting together a plan B in case the compatriot finds himself sanctioned. An alternative solution that goes through Karel Abraham…
Andrea Iannone got himself into trouble and we hope that this case of testing positive for a doping product will not lead to a sad end to his career. In the meantime, at Aprilia, we pull the blanket over ourselves to provide ourselves with a safety mattress protecting against a possible media and sporting explosion. The brand is well aware that it may be deprived of one of its two factory drivers in 2020. The recent positive results ofAndrea Iannone in a doping control, which the Vasto driver underwent during the last Malaysian Grand Prix, endangered the professional future of the Italian driver. He faces a sentence of up to four years without being able to participate in any championship organized by the FIM if he does not prove his innocence.
The Vasto pilot's lawyers have already officially requested a counter-analysis of the "B sample" in the same laboratory that carried out the analysis of the first urine sample tested positive for anabolic steroids, specifically the drostanolone , a substance that is usually consumed by gym members a few days before participating in a competition.
Iannone is convinced that the results of this sample B – which will be known on 7 janvier – will serve to exonerate him and recover his pilot's license, currently suspended indefinitely until the matter is clarified.
If the counter-analysis is again positive, Iannone and his lawyers will have to prove that the steroids accidentally entered the pilot's body Aprilia. One of the hypotheses his defense is considering is the possibility that Andrea consumed contaminated meat during the championship's Asian tour, perhaps from steak coming from an animal that was raised using an anabolic to accelerate its growth.
The problem is that Iannone will only have one month to prove his innocence. However, the start of the Sepang tests is scheduled for February 7. Aprilia is therefore already acting behind the scenes, looking for a rider capable of replacing the Italian in the early stages, or even for the rest of the season, if the positive steroids and the suspension of the license Iannone are finally consolidated.
According to Speedweek.com, Noale's men have already contacted Karel Abraham to find out the Czech driver's plans over the coming months. Former rider Reale Avintia, who had no choice but to hand over the handlebars of his Ducati to Johann zarco after the Spanish team decided to terminate his contract which bound him until the end of 2020.
Abraham, who is currently on vacation in Monaco, received a call fromAprilia to ask him his plans for the future and the possibility of being the replacement of Iannone in case of problems with WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency: “ Yes, Aprilia called me. They asked me if I would be available”, the Czech laconically confided to Speedweek.com.
The other possibility ofAprilia is to upgrade his test pilot Bradley Smith alongsideAleix Espargaró. However, it would not be that simple since the Briton has already signed up with Petronas to race with his MotoE in 2020. He would therefore not be able to participate in five races on the Grand Prix calendar, because there is a rule that prevents riders championship to participate in more than one category in the same competition on the weekend…
